News and Events for the Bay Area Canadian Community

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A newsletter from a fellow Canadian organization in the Bay Area.

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Remembering a king’s message: “How all civilized nations should live together.”

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An item from the Legion Magazine.
Weekly Feature
Observation Post

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the platform of the royal train that carried them across Canada during their 1939 royal tour. (William Lyon Mackenzie King /LAC/PA-203283)

Remembering a king’s message:
“How all civilized nations should live together.”

STORY BY RICHARD FOOT

Here’s a reminder of how much the world has changed—and how much it hasn’t.

In June 1939, King George VI, at the end of his and Queen Elizabeth’s royal tour of North America, paid tribute to the friendship they had witnessed between Canada and the United States:

“From the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the tropics to the Arctic, lies a large part of the earth where there is no possibility of war between neighbours, whose peoples are wholly dedicated to the pursuits of peace, a pattern to all men of how civilized nations should live together,” the kng said.

“It is good to know that such a region exists, for what man can do once he can do again. By God’s grace yours may yet be the example which all the world will follow.”

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Summer Blowout!
The Briefing
The Briefing

Wounded Great War veterans George Hincks and Marshall McDougall pictured in the Calgary Daily Herald on April 21, 1923. [Calgary Daily Herald]

Historian Eric Story on the legacy of Great War veterans with disabilities

STORY BY ALEX BOWERS

When the guns of the Western Front fell silent on Nov. 11, 1918, the smoke of battle gradually faded. The violence of the previous four years, however, had left countless scars—not only on the shattered landscape, but on those who survived it.

In time, sites of such bloodshed could largely heal—mud replaced with fertile fields, ruins rebuilt into thriving communities. The same could not always be said for tens of thousands of Canadian veterans with disabilities—men who had lost limbs, developed chronic illnesses or otherwise endured life-altering wounds. For many of these individuals, the Great War was carried home with them.

Medical and military historian Eric Story, an assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., has studied the legacies of the conflict for more than 10 years. Rather than the quagmires of Belgium and France, his research has charted the very different—yet no less complex—landscape of postwar disability and advocacy in Canada.

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Member Benefit Partner
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Legion members and their families can enjoy exclusive offers at IRIS. Save $150 on prescription glasses and sunglasses.
 

Email sent to: mkbarbour@gmail.com

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A Historic Recognition: D-Day Beaches Join UNESCO World Heritage

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Members may be interested in this news that was announced a couple of weeks ago.  Note the inclusion of Juno Beach in particular.

Behind the UNESCO World Heritage inscription and the universal significance of an exceptional site of remembrance
Normandy Tourism
THE D-DAY LANDING BEACHES INSCRIBED ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST:
A POWERFUL SYMBOL
Pointe du Hoc, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword Beach: these names resonate far beyond Normandy. Eighty-two years after the largest amphibious operation in history, a new milestone has been reached. It is now official: The D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944 have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.*
The long-awaited announcement was made by the World Heritage Committee during its meeting in South Korea this July.

This recognition is the result of a long-standing collective effort led by the Normandy Region, the French State and local stakeholders. The goal was to highlight the Outstanding Universal Value of the D-Day (short for Decision Day) Landing Beaches, sites forever associated with one of the defining events of the Second World War. Today, that goal has become a reality.
READ THE ARTICLE ON OUR WEBSITE
Beyond the immense hope sparked by the D-Day Landings of 6 June 1944 across occupied and oppressed Europe, this unprecedented military operation embodied an alliance between nations united by shared values. Operation Overlord paved the way for reconstruction and, ultimately, for reconciliation between former enemies.

A LEGACY TO PRESERVE

The inscription of the D-Day Landing Beaches on the UNESCO World Heritage List represents international recognition of this historical and cultural heritage. Significant traces of the events can still be found along the coastline, including the remains of the Mulberry B artificial harbour off Arromanches. With UNESCO World Heritage status comes a responsibility to preserve the site for future generations. A dedicated management plan will address environmental challenges, particularly the impact of climate change on the coastline, while involving local communities in the governance of the property.

PASSING ON THIS HERITAGE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

Joining the World Heritage List is also a commitment to the future. At a time when fewer and fewer direct witnesses remain, passing on this legacy to younger generations becomes an increasingly important challenge. The responsibility now lies with the memorial sites themselves and with those who bring their stories to life. This collective ambition is more relevant than ever: ensuring that future generations continue to engage with the history of D-Day and the universal message of peace it conveys, for the world of today and tomorrow.
EXPLORE THE D-DAY LANDING BEACHES
D-DAY AT A GLANCE
  • By the evening of 6 June 1944, 156,000 Allied troops had landed in Normandy, primarily Americans, British, Canadians and French, alongside Belgians, Dutch, Norwegians and Poles. Of these, 133,000 arrived by sea and 23,000 by air.
  • 1,300 transport ships
  • 4,000 landing craft
  • In 2025, the memorial sites and places of remembrance associated with the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy recorded more than 5.9 million visits. This exceptional level of attendance reaches its peak during major D-Day anniversaries.
* United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

FOR MORE INSPIRATION

Check out our “Best time to visit Normandy” webpage,

and for a daily dose of Normandy vibes:
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WE’RE HERE TO HELP!

Looking for some tips, advice or recommendations?
Please feel free to contact Ben and Léna:
contact@normandy-tourism.org
Official Normandy Tourist Board

Copyrights : Port artificiel d’Arromanches © Florent / stock.adobe.comUnder French Law (n. 78-17 amended in 2014), regarding Data Protection and Freedom of Information, you are entitled to access, amend, delete the information provided or even to opt out simply by (N° CNIL: 1501208) contact us

Teaching responsibility for the greater good

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An item from the folks at Wreaths Across America, which may be of interest to members.  If any member of the Branch wishes to sponsor one or more wreaths, be sure to have them placed at the “CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco” – as our cadets have always been a big part of that service.

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Dear Michael Barbour,

 

In the last couple of months, as we have worked to add a new exhibit to our museum, I have spent a considerable amount of time studying the history of WWII.
I wasn’t looking only for statistics. I was looking for the stories behind them. What I quickly discovered was that Americans understood winning the war would require far more than the courage of those serving on the battlefield. It would require an entire nation willing to sacrifice, serve and pull together for the greater good.

 

Click here to read my full message, and keep scrolling to learn more about our year-round mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach.

 

Sincerely,
karensignature-1

Karen Worcester

Wreaths Across America’s Executive Director
 

WAA in the News

Wreaths Across America partners with Elev8 to honor veterans through everyday giving

WAA is proud to partner with Elev8, an innovative fundraising platform that makes it easy for supporters to help honor our nation’s veterans through everyday giving. By automatically rounding up debit and credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and donating the spare change, Elev8 allows donors to make consistent, meaningful contributions with little effort. As the need to sponsor veterans’ wreaths continues to grow each year, this partnership provides a simple, sustainable, and technology-driven way for more Americans to support the yearlong mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.
 

Curriculum Spotlight: Navajo Code Talkers

During World War II, 29 Navajo recruits created an unbreakable military code based on Diné bizaad. Eventually, more than 400 Navajo Marines served in the Pacific theatre as code talkers.

 

August 14 is National Navajo Code Talkers Day. Help us remember these heroes by sharing their story with a young person in your life! Click the button to access our Navajo Code Talkers Day lessons and all of our Teach program curriculum.
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Mission Matters on Wreaths Across America Radio
Mission Matters 2025

Tune in to Wreaths Across America Radio every Wednesday for Mission Matters with your host, Executive Director Karen Worcester! If you miss an episode, you can find it on our website.
 

Remember Me Story Gallery

Help us identify service members who deserve to be remembered. These could be family members, local heroes, or names from your local cemetery that few people know.

 

Please submit names, photos, and stories at the button below. You can also view the gallery of stories. Be sure to use #RememberMe on social media!
Remember Me Carl Heath
 

Sponsor Spotlight
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We are deeply grateful to L3Harris Technologies and Norfolk Southern for their continued support of the Wreaths Across America mission. Your commitment helps us ensure that every hero is remembered, honored, and taught to future generations.

 

Through your generosity and partnership, we are able to expand our reach, engage more communities, and carry forward the important work of placing wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s veterans. Thank you for standing with us and for sharing in this mission to remember, honor and teach.
 

Featured Merchandise

Show your support for Wreaths Across America and the 250th anniversary of the United States while sporting this comfortable classic hoodie. It has the 2026 Theme “Remember Me” on the left chest.

 

Click on the button to purchase the hoodie, or view all of our merchandise here.

 
 
 

Make sure to follow Wreaths Across America official channels on social media for the most up-to-the-minute news on the mission throughout the year:
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
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Wreaths Across America, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623, United States, 877-385-9504