Note from Ernie Beno, 9 September 2020 The Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France is Canada’s memorial in Europe honoring those who fought in World War II. We seek to protect the legacy of Canada’s Second World War veterans in a manner that is interesting, relevant and educational to new generations, today, tomorrow, and in the future. Covid-19 has hit us hard, with the museum closed for three months and all tours from Canada for 2020 and early 2021 cancelled. So, we are re-grouping and re-establishing our fundraising initiatives. This is one of them. The Juno Beach Centre was created by D-Day Veterans, including Jan de Vries of 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion – and it stands as a testament to those members of Canada’s greatest generation who helped liberate Europe and beyond. I have been on the Board of Directors of the JBC for about ten years. Through August I (virtually) walked the route from Juno Beach, to Bény sur Mer Cemetery, to Carpiquet Airport, past Pegasus Bridge and then on to Caen (hard fighting back then). From there to Point 67 (where Gunners now have a 25 Pounder), Trotval Farm, then Verrières Ridge to Falaise (we have all heard of and studied the Falaise Gap) – 64 kilometres in August. In September and October, I plan to walk the distance from Falaise to the Seine River – another 155 kms, a bit over seven half marathons. I have reached about $5,000 from supporters to date but would like to raise this to maybe $10,000. Every bit helps to keep the Juno Beach Centre alive, vibrant, meaningful, and engaged/engaging with Europeans, Canadians, and international visitors. Please donate to my walk, or to others, or sign up yourself if you wish – we now have over 300 signed on and over $9,000 in donations.
To donate in my name (Ernest Beno) on-line go to:
If you wish to mail a donation, make cheques payable to “The Juno Beach Centre Association”:
Juno Beach Centre Association
Unit 44 – 760 Brant Street
Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4B7
(Or – Mail to E Beno, address below)
To sign up yourself as a participant, go to: https://www.events.runningroom.com/site/17167/
For more information click here to visit the Virtual Remembrance Day / Juno Beach event website.
To learn about the Juno Beach Centre, go to: https://www.junobeach.org/
Airborne! UBIQUE! Ernie Ernest B Beno, OMM, CD Brigadier General (Retired) 1st Airborne Battery, E Battery (Para), SSF Director, Board of Directors Juno Beach Centre Association