Juno Beach Remembrance Site
What Was Juno Beach?
OPERATION OVERLORD
The rushing water against the side of the side of the Higgins boats. The beach drawing nearer, inch by inch. Other, trembling bodies pressed against you. Are they shaking because of the cold of the sea, or the fear? You weren't supposed to be here. You never thought that you'd be here. Your blood is pure adrenaline. You don't even know if you can breathe. The shouts of orders over the roar of the sea. Why are you here? To change history.
Juno Beach was the beach assigned to the Canadian troops during the D-Day invasion of Normandy during the World War Two. This invasion, taking place on the beaches of Normandy, France, is known as the largest amphibious assault to have ever taken place in human history. The attack was carried out by the Allied countries who sought to take back Europe from the brutal Nazi regime of Germany and the Axis Powers.
By breaking through the defenses in France, the Allies could begin their long journey of retaking Europe and freeing people from Nazi oppression.
However, to gain this first advantageous step, the Allies would have to sacrifice so much.
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On this day, June 6th 1944, each Allied country took their positions outside of their assigned beaches and prepared to attack. The designated beaches were as follows:
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Omaha - United States of America
Utah - United States of America
Gold - Great Britain
Sword - Great Britain
Juno - Canada
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At the beach of Juno, a 10-kilometer stretch of rough beach heavy with German defense, approximately 14 000 Canadian soldiers prepared to advance. Carried in by Higgins boats, exactly like the other beaches, these soldiers marched into battle prepared to fight for the freedom of their home and the world. Many didn't even know that they would be here. Many soldier testimonies state that "they just enlisted for the pay and the thrilling membership". Too many of these young soldiers suddenly had to leave their lives in order to save the lives of others.
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Too many of them rushed into their doom.
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In the Juno Beach advance, 340 Canadian soldiers lost their lives, 574 were wounded and 47 were captured. It was because of their sacrifice that the war had begun to come to an end.
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Juno Beach is widely considered one of the most strategically successful D-Day landings. Once it was captured the reinforcements could then carry out the capture of the rest of Europe as planned. It was this day, June 6th, that was the most decisive day of the whole war; the beginning of the end. D-Day was the turning point of the whole war, and critical in defeating Hitler.
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The soldiers of Juno made that possible.
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It is important to never forget the sacrifices made at Juno beach that day. Soldiers who would never come home and families that would eternally miss them. Their sacrifice for the freedom of the world.
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Never Forget.
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