This week’s opinion pages digress from their usual format as D-Day is honored on its 50th anniversary.
Why should such a large amount of space be devoted to an event that happened so long ago? Many of our readers may not remember it, for they were the next generation, seemingly far removed from the effects of a largely overseas war.
As our editor notes, the world could indeed have been a different place if Nazis and fascists had been victorious.
Western Canada still bears placenames to remind future generations of the two World Wars.
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Saskatchewan bears the names of Wartime, Amiens and Somme.
Manitoba named lakes after its Second World War warriors, such as Abram Lake for Private Albert J. Abram, and Sedgwick Lake, after Rifleman Sifford Sedgwick of Sanford, killed in action in France 50 years ago. Alberta mountains were named after generals (Haig, Foch, Eisenhower) and admirals (Jellicoe, Beatty), or given inspirational titles as Inflexible and Invincible. Near Jasper are the Victoria Cross Ranges.
One of the mountains in Jasper National Park, Mt. Edith Cavell, was named in 1916 after an English nurse who assisted wounded Allied prisoners in Belgium.
She also helped about 200 soldiers trapped behind enemy lines to reach their armies again. Captured by the Germans, she was executed by firing squad in 1915.
The mountain offers peacefulness and tranquility, far away from bombing raids on London, concentration camps in Poland, mortar barrages in Sarajevo and other scenes of atrocities throughout this “civilized” world.
Whether visiting battle sites, enjoying unspoiled nature retreats, or carrying on everyday lives in our small towns, we enjoy peace that should never be taken for granted.