At a ceremony held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Charlottetown today, Premier Pat Binns announced that the Government of Prince Edward Island would be making a financial contribution to the Juno Beach Centre.
The Juno Beach Centre opened in Normandy, France, on June 6, 2003, the 59th anniversary of the battle of Normandy. The Centre is sponsored by the Government of Canada and many provincial governments. The $5,000 contribution from the Government of Prince Edward Island ensures that Islanders who served during the battle of Normandy are appropriately honoured at the memorial centre.
"I am proud to make this contribution on behalf of all Islanders, and especially those that served during wartime," said Premier Pat Binns. "It is important to keep the memory of the contributions Islanders made to World War II alive by supporting our veterans."
The Juno Beach Centre includes a museum that features a simulated approach to the D-Day beaches by landing craft, displays of the theatres of operations and the events of the Second World War in Canada and overseas. Also included are explanations of military hardware and tactics such as how minesweeping works or how a convoy was organized.
Premier Binns acknowledged the tremendous work which Mr. Bruce Melanson, an associate director of the Juno Beach Association, has undertaken in support of the establishment of the Juno Beach Centre.
"Mr. Melanson is a proud Canadian and an important supporter of this project. On behalf of the Government of PEI, I wish to extend out thanks for his work on this great project for Island veterans," said Premier Binns.