By Dominic Perreault
Unpublished text
This text is a tribute to the grandfather of the author.
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Dear Grandpa,
I am writing to give you news of Normandy. Even if you see may be right up there where you found your good Lady, here's what you would read on my return trip.
Saturday, June 6, 2009 was the 65th anniversary of e "D" day, when after two years of training in England, you disembark in Normandy to deal the "master stroke" the armies of the Third Reich. You are a survivor of the longest day and you lived a long life, despite your serious wound received after July 18, in the final battle for the liberation of Caen.
So on the appointed day, I was there for a ceremony organized by the Centre Juno Beach Courseulles-sur-Mer. It is a place of memory and culture on Canada and its involvement in the 2 e World War, located in the nearby village of Bernieres-sur-Mer where you landed.
I was surrounded for the occasion of veterans who, like you were part of the Canadian liberation troops. You know me, you know what an honor it was for me to represent you, taking your medals as a token of your presence.
Do you remember all the times you answered my endless questions? All times, to satiate my curiosity of a child, you were reliving the hell? There, I was among them, remembering your suffering, and with the maturity that is gained with age, according to them.
foot and I met a sailor who led the boiler on beaches. Perhaps you, who knows? Also a pilot and a tank gunner. Their welcome was warm and intense, despite the shift of generations.
They received me well because you were with me but because I represented by your memory, those lost and those who carry the flame of memory when you have all taken your rest the warrior. I was so proud when the veteran, Mr. Nelson Hilborn Highland Light Infantry of Canada, I said: "your great father WAS one of hot tea's? They Were damn good guys, real tough! "
proud but sad too ...
What war did you do, Grandpa? I knew you sweet and sensitive. Believe me when I got up from reading your feats of arms, my back straight and my handshake to Gordon Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, was frank and proud, as you would have liked .
After the ceremonies, I followed your footsteps, trying to see firsthand the places that you had spoken, on which I had read. Beny-sur-Mer, where I saluted the grave of your "chummy" Jean-Baptiste Lanteigne, shot by an SS Colomby on Thaon, Rots, where you can be your name engraved on the wall to Canadians. I also saw Carpiquet hell are you describing with eyes vague. Witness through the new construction, there remains a wall of the city where you fought so hard the 12 th Hitler SS.
I tried to see with your eyes, Grandpa, but it was impossible, this time is yours. I saw with my own. I saw the Normandy as you wanted it to be. With its gardens, its pilgrims tourists, its inhabitants much, decorating their houses unifoliate.
because they did not do you not forgotten, your memory is cherished and I was sent for you a vivid testimony. I will long remember these two Normans shaking my hand with tears in their eyes, people of my generation at that.
You still live in this land of France and the people you are grateful, 65 years later. There would be pages to say, but as I'm leaving for Quebec soon, I'll stop there.
I still want to tell you that I never stop believing in my childhood hero, despite your absence and my 36 years.
I am giving you this in closing the only irritant in these ceremonies was delayed by 35 minutes of our Prime Minister Stephen Harper. To see all these venerable warriors from 85 to 93 years waiting in the cold rain Norman honor them, I was not proud. Knew you as a "red" my faith quite dark, I told myself that this is not where you would have turned "blue". Ha Ha Ha!
Well, I'll tell you more in my next letter, but in the meantime I welcome your sweet love with my beautiful grandmother who through your wounds, both physical and moral one, also suffered from the war. Luckily it is still there to prevent us from doing too much nonsense!
I love you and do not forget you, "lest we forget".
Respectfully, your grand-son Dominic.
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images associated with soldier Louis-Philippe Leblanc and to visit his grand-son in Normandy are available in our image gallery .
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One goal of this site is to promote the memory of French-Canadian soldiers, it is possible Readers who wish to write a tribute to a veteran. Subject, the site Quebec and WWII will publish it. For information, contact Vincent Sebastian ( svincent16@hotmail.com ).
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