Dear Second World War veterans, your Royal Highness, Prime Minister Attal, President Michel of the European Council, my dear friends, it’s a great honour for me to be here with you today to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.

80 years ago, more than 14,000 Canadians landed at Juno Beach, among the roughly 150,000 Allied forces who came ashore in Normandy. These soldiers had friends and family. They had lives and jobs before the war started. On the battlefield, Francophones, Anglophones, Indigenous peoples and new Canadians came together as one. Brave Canadians like you sacrificed everything for our freedom. There are no words to describe the immensity of the debt we owe you.

Five years ago, during the 75th, and over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of you. Each time, I’m touched by your candour and humility, knowing that you’ve given so much to your country. You saved the world, and for that we will forever be grateful to you.

At age 99, Private William Seifried, who's with us today, enjoys playing bridge with friends multiple times a week. Half of all the people he knows. So, he, of all people, knows how fragile life is. So, he's enjoying every second of it. He knows how fragile life is because while in combat, a grenade landed at his feet. He was only 21 and he said, not today. So, he picked up the grenade and swiftly threw it back.

Sapper Léopold Thibeault, who is also with us today, enlisted at Rimouski in his early twenties, in 1941. He served in Great Britain, France, Belgium and Holland, where he worked on the Bailey bridges, portable prefabricated bridges that allowed allies to advance more quickly. And through the efforts of soldiers like him, bridges were also built between Canada and all those countries that are now among our best friends and allies.

To win the war, the Allied High command decided that the coast of Normandy would be the target of the amphibious assault on the continent. Canadian infantry and armoured troops were assigned a landing zone of their own, right here at Juno Beach. It was a testament to the esteem held for Canadian soldiers that a country with such a relatively small population would be given such an important role in Operation Overlord, and Canadians proved up to the task. On this day, 80 years ago, Canadian troops progressed further inland than any of our allies. It was a remarkable achievement and a costly one too.

359 Canadians lost their lives on the day of the landing. We shall remember them.

We shall remember them. We remember your sacrifice. We remember your stories.

We all have a responsibility to continue sharing these stories so that future generations do not forget the heroism and courage it took to defend our freedoms, and also remember the dangers and horrors of war.

Honorary Lieutenant General Richard Rohmer, who turned 100 this year. He is also with us today, is one of Canada's most decorated veterans. Over the decades, he's participated in and organized many commemoration events. In his words, the costly D-Day success at Juno Beach laid the unforeseeable foundation for the betterment of mankind. It is important for him that we never forget.

So, to General Romer, to Sergeant Armitage, who couldn't be here with us today, to Able Seaman Bill Cameron, who sadly passed away just last weekend. When I spoke with her a few days ago, his daughter Donna, told me just how much he'd been looking forward to being here with all of you. His bags have been packed for weeks, and he was so proud to be coming back to Normandy.

So, for him and for all the veterans, I can promise you that Canada and the world will keep commemorating this significant day for decades and generations to come.

Along with remembering your stories, we all have a duty to remind future generations of the principles for which you fought: freedom, democracy, and justice.

Our way of life didn't happen by accident. And it won't continue without effort. Democracy is still under threat today. It is threatened by aggressors who want to redraw borders. It is threatened by demagoguery, misinformation, disinformation, foreign interference. We must all continue to stand for democracy day in and day out. We owe it to future generations, and we owe it to the great women and men in uniform who sacrificed so much for our collective freedom. Lest we forget.

Thank you.