The courage of three local veterans during D-Day awarded them the highest national order of the Republic of France.

Now Knights of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour, Sir Bennie Klick, Sir Lloyd Lehman and Sir John Owczar (photos below are in this order) helped liberate France in June 1944, during World War II, and were ordered awards by the President of the Republic of France. The awards were presented to each veteran by Monsieur Bruno Burnichon, Honourary Consul of France.

room with them I feel very small, I feel very insignificant compared to them."

In January when the veterans received the awards and a personally signed letter from the President of the Republic of France, Steinbach Legion President Bill Richards recalled the extensive criteria needed for the award including a three page in-depth application.

Vials of sand from Juno Beach given to veterans from Corporal Glenn Syme."These three veterans are now in their 90's and these three veterans landed at D-Day under the most hostile of enemy action possible," says Richards. "Each of [the three veterans] started to relive what happened and they had a hard time, but these stories need to be told both for our generation and the next generations. The stories of sacrifice and heroism are just incredible. That's why these stories must be told and we must remember them."

Richards adds we tend to take things, like peace, for granted, and we never should because the world is not at peace.

Richards says retired Corporal Glenn Syme is an avid military historian, having done a lot of research into the Canadians who fought in each war and visiting grave sites in Europe many times.  Richards adds in 2009 Syme visited Juno Beach and took sand which he presented in vials to each of the three veterans after the ceremony.

Read More:
Three Steinbach Legion WWII Veterans Honoured

{gallery}2016_05_france{/gallery}