Vancouver Remembrance Day ceremony reflects on D-Day anniversary [Video]

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Vancouver Monday to observe the 100th Remembrance day ceremony at the Victory Square cenotaph, paying their respects to the Canadian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

This year’s somber service reflected on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, in the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Some 21,000 Canadian soldiers were involved in the initial attack, and 381 were killed in action that day.

“For most of those young Canadians, it was their first time in battle,” said Jim Stanton, co-director of ceremonies. “We will not forget those volunteer citizen soldiers who fought bravely for peace.”

By the end of the Battle of Normandy, the Canadian death toll exceeded 5,000.

Vancouver’s Remembrance Day ceremony has been observed at Victory Square since 1924, without interruption, making it the oldest annual ceremony in …