A group of fewer than 50 people gathered outside of the Sarnia Legion Thursday morning to pay tribute to Second World War veterans and remember a time when Canadians gave their lives to help liberate France.
A delegation of youth from Normandy, France led the service, which capped off a 25-day Canadian tour consisting of 18 ceremonies.
Members of the Westlake Brothers Souvenir Association (WBSA) took turns speaking in both French and English and described the importance of remembering this part of world history.
The master of ceremonies, 21-year-old Philippe Bosquain, spoke with Sarnia News Today and said he has been a member of the WBSA for seven years.
"My grandfather knew about some Canadians from London who died near the village where I live," he said.
After meeting the president of the WBSA, Bosquain became a member and has since taken part in many commemoration ceremonies throughout Normandy and Canada.
He said it was difficult to describe the importance of holding these services.
"The fact that Canadian people came voluntarily on their own during WWII... it's kind of unimaginable but they still did it," he said.
Bosquain said their visit to Canada has been great as they received a "warm welcome" in each city. They will return to France on August 6.
The last time members of the WBSA visited Sarnia (as part of the Canadian tour) was in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mareus Lhermette, 20, said eight members came to Canada in 2019 but this year, there were more than 20.
"It's really important for us," said Lhermette.
The WBSA was formed in 2006 in Caen, a city within France's Normandy region, by a history teacher named Christophe Collet. A media release also said the volunteer-based group was named after the Westlake brothers who were killed in the battle of Le Mesnil-Patry in 1944.
Members of the WBSA include youth between the ages of 14 and 21.
