A day that marked a turning point in the Second World War is not being missed by the local museum.
Okotoks Museum and Archives is posting facts, local stories and artifacts relating to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in honour of the event’s 75th anniversary June 6. An open house takes place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
On June 6, 1944, nearly 150,000 allied troops participated in the invasion of Normandy, France, including 14,000 Canadians at Juno Beach, said Coutts.
“It’s a perfect opportunity to mark the anniversary by doing an exhibit on Canadians’ contribution to D-Day and the battle of Normandy, as well as Okotoks residents’ contributions,” said Kathy Coutts, museum and archives specialist.
“I wanted to recognize the anniversary and acknowledge the efforts of Canadians and those Okotoks residents who participated and especially acknowledge those who paid the supreme price.”
The exhibit includes text, photographs, models of airplanes used in the battle, duffle bags from the Second World War and a video with photographs and stories by Ron Rhine, a former Okotokian who had enlisted and served with the Royal Canadian Navy.
It also pays tribute to the three men who lost their lives during the battle.
It will be located on the second floor of the museum.
Coutts said most of the information is factual, rather than anecdotal, as those who served rarely went into detail about the service after returning home.
A lot of information was collected from articles in the Okotoks Review newspaper, veteran biographies in the Century of Memories history book, as well as from Veterans Affairs Canada and Library and Archives Canada for official records of Canada’s
contributions to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, Coutts said.
The exhibit will be available for viewing until the end of August, when the battle ended 75 years ago.
Museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On June 8, Coutts will lead a tour of the Salute to Our Veterans Wall featuring stories of local residents’ contributions to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. There is no cost to attend the tour.
