Students off to Juno Beach for real-life history lesson

CTV News Channel: Giving back to those lost Students Mac Evans and Kaitlin Calbery describe what it means to them to take part in the D-Day commemorations in France.

Most Canadian students remember “June 6, 1944” for their history tests. But for former British Seaman Anthony Balch, it’s a day he’ll never forget.

“I remember that day very well. I remember the day, the morning when I first came up on deck,” says Balch.

Seventy years after first stepping foot on Juno Beach, he’s going back. And he’s bringing with him a group about as old as he was when he had to live through D-Day.

Students from a Shelburne, Ontario high school are travelling to France to witness the 70th anniversary at Juno Beach. Two of them -- Rebecca Janke and Jeff Allen -- were chosen to recite “The Commitment to Remember.”

“They were young, as we are young,” begins the pledge. “They served, giving freely of themselves.”

Balch thinks the trip will help the teens appreciate those words.

"Seeing the veterans and appreciating the fact that these old men once strode this beach and many of them gave their lives," he says.

Dozens of young people from across the country will be heading to France for Friday’s anniversary, including the Porcupine Plain, Sask., cadets, who will be part of the honour guard during the ceremony.

“Just to see all the beaches and see what they’d seen, what the veterans had seen, will be cool," cadet Adam Brownridge says.

For history teacher Shannon Rankin, the trip will be a valuable lesson in understanding what students like them went through seven decades ago.

"It is often like a movie to them,” she says. “It is kind of hard for them to relate."