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Celebrations across the world Thursday are marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Known as Operation Overlord, the world’s largest co-ordinated seaborne invasion on June 6, 1944, by Allied forces in Northern France is seen as a turning point in the Second World War.
Earlier this week, a group of cadets in Saskatoon were celebrating Decoration Day, a largely forgotten holiday that predates Remembrance Day as a national holiday to commemorate veterans of some of Canada’s earliest battles.
“It’s to show support for those who fought for our country, who died for our country, and to show their families that there are people that care and they’re not forgotten,” 13-year-old Caitlin Luther said about the importance of the day.
A crowd of more than 200 people marked the day by parading down Memorial Avenue at Woodlawn Cemetery before a brief wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in the middle of the cemetery.
The holiday began as a protest after the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866, considered Canada’s first modern battle by military experts.
The annual event took place from 1890 to 1930 as it grew to accommodate veterans of other Canadian battles, including the First World War before the armistice in 1918.
Only four cadet corps attended the celebration. Luther was proud that her’s decided to attend as many other military organizations forgo Decoration Day in favour of Remembrance Day.
“It’s very forgotten,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of corps that still don’t separate it. A lot of people don’t see it as an important day, but us as cadets do because those people fought for us to be here.”
Patti Paul has been a cadet officer for 35 years, currently serving as administration officer for 2293 Saskatchewan Regiment Army Cadet Corps. She hopes to keep the memory of Canada’s earliest soldiers lasting well into the future.
“Every year I see the numbers get smaller and smaller here, and it’s sad,” she said. “We celebrate Nov.11, and it’s a big day, but that’s when the war ended.”
Honouring Canada’s veterans so close to the 75th anniversary of D-Day had added significance for Luther. Members of her family fought in the battle.
“Even though it’s 75 years ago, it’s still very, very important,” she said.
Mary-Lynn Munday, another 13-year-old cadet marking the day, said her reasons for marking Decoration Day were simple.
“To carry on their legacy, and to show that we still learn about them and know about what they did was important for us, and how far we’ve come as Canada today,” she said.
