Statue honouring Saskatchewan war veterans' bravery on D-Day unveiled in Regina
CBC
An eight-foot tall bronze statue, unveiled at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina on Saturday, has been made to commemorate the sacrifices of Saskatchewan soldiers and their role in the pivotal D-Day invasion during World War II.
Nearly 80 years ago, on June 6, 1944, more than 14,000 Canadian soldiers landed or parachuted into France as part of the famous invasion — including the Royal Regina Rifles.
"It's very moving. It's something that has stuck with me," Ed Staniowski, the former commanding officer of the Canadian Armed Forces' Royal Regina Rifles, said of seeing the statue.
The Royal Regina Rifles Trust has spent 18 months fundraising in their pursuit to erect the statue in its final destination at La Place des Canadiens in Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse, France.
In about two weeks, the statue will arrive at the Peepeekisis First Nation for the day, home to more than 40 people who served in WWII.
On May 1, the statue will be flown to Normandy, France, and then ceremonially unveiled on June 5 in Bretteville-sur-Mer at la Place des Canadiens where it will stand in honour of Canadian soldiers.
"I've had a chance to serve with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Regiment in various places in the world and in several conflicts," Staniowski said.
"The intensity that is on that statue is what you see on the faces of young Canadian men and women when they serve in far off places in the world."
Alongside the unveiling of the statue, 104-year-old Nick Kazuska from Saskatoon was awarded the French Legion of Honour.
According to the Canadian War Museum, the Legion of Honour is a French award that recognizes people for "extraordinary bravery or service during wartime."
"Canadians should be proud of what those veterans did," said Michel Miraillet, Canada's Ambassador to France.
"By giving the Légion d'honneur to this man, it's also a way for us to remember that we rely [on] the Canadian commitments to defend democracies."
Nearly 1,200 Canadian veterans have been awarded the Legion of Honour, including 92 from Saskatchewan.
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