The Folly of Commemorating War: D-Day 70th Anniversary

The original D-Day, June 6th, 1944, was the largest and most complex combined forces action in the history of the world. More than 160,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen and women were involved. More than 50,000 vehicles including 5,000 ships and 11,000 planes crossed the English Channel to land on five Normandy beaches code-named Gold, Juno, Utah, Omaha and Sword. Canada's mission was to take and hold Juno Beach.

Some 14,000 Canadians hit the beaches on D-Day. The Third Canadian Division and First Canadian Parachute Battalion and other units suffered 1,000 casualties, including 350 killed. The battle was a slaughter for troops trying to punch through Rommel's massive beach fortifications. They succeeded and ultimately tore Northern Europe from Nazi occupation.

This Friday will see a full calendar of events marking the 70th anniversary. There will be fully guided tours of the beaches, bicycle tours of the landing sites, realistic light and sound shows and as one brochure proclaims, "out of the ordinary experiences." You can even ride around in a 100-percent authentic-type replica copy of a military jeep which includes "an emotional visit to an American cemetery."

In the run-up to the anniversary, AMC or as I like to think of it, the Awful Movie Channel, is running and rerunning war movies showing how John Wayne and his paratroopers won the battle. And last Monday night, in the cheesiest display of jingoism ever, the Toronto Blue Jays, a Canadian baseball team, wore camouflage caps in honour of Memorial Day, an American observance. In fact the D-Day celebrations are looking to be nothing more than an elaborate stage for money-making for the many, and photo opportunities for the great. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be on hand, as will Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama.

U.S. presidents never went to D-Day observances prior to the visit of Ronald Reagan in 1984. That wily old Grade B actor immediately grasped the publicity possibilities of a visit. June, 1954, marked the tenth anniversary of the invasion. The president of the United States was Dwight David Eisenhower, the man who led Operation Overlord and sent the men and machines into the teeth of battle. Unlike his successor presidents, the old general refused to participate in any 10th anniversary celebrations. He refused to have his picture taken. He made no public appearance.

He retired to the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland with his family. He issued a terse 308-word statement exalting the bravery of the men in his command. Then he kept to himself. The man who knew the horrors of D-Day better than any other human, took no part in any public remembrance of that awful day.

The glorification ceremonies are being held against a backdrop of a scandal that is sweeping the White House and the US Veterans' Administration. High officials have been accused of falsifying records to cover up mismanagement, denial of treatment and horrific waiting lists. In Canada, some veterans and their families complain of a lack of proper treatment for PTSD.

I have a suggestion: Instead of following the photo-op in Northern France, why not visit a veterans' hospital? Take along a bottle of wine.