Iqaluit ceremony to mark 80th anniversary of D-Day

The City of Iqaluit, with the Royal Canadian Legion, will hold a ceremony Thursday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

“D-Day marks a pivotal moment” in the Second World War, a City of Iqaluit news release noted Wednesday. “As a mark of respect and remembrance, all flags will be lowered to half-mast for the day.”

D-Day, on June 6, 1944, was the beginning of the successful Allied invasion of Western Europe and is seen as a major turning point in the war.

Canadian soldiers were dispatched to Juno Beach, one of five target points planned for the Allied invasion of Normandy on the coast of France which was held by German forces.

The other invasion points were Utah, Omaha, Gold and Sword beaches.

In all, more than 7,000 ships and landing craft and 195,000 military personnel from eight Allied countries took part in the invasion.

Over a 12-hour period that day, approximately 14,000 Canadian military personnel took part — 340 were killed, 574 were wounded and 47 were captured, according to the Government of Canada’s official Juno Beach memorial website.

The German army surrendered on May 7, 1945, and the Second World War ended on Sept. 2 that year.

In Iqaluit, the legion will host the ceremony starting at 10:45 a.m., either at the cenotaph or inside the legion hall depending on the weather.

“We encourage all residents to join us in honouring the memory of those who served on D-Day,” the news release said.