Canada officially came into existence with Confederation in 1867. Yet, many will contend that the spiritual birth of the nation occurred on the battlefield.

The steadfast valour and tactical brilliance of the Canadians at Vimy Ridge, the sacrifice at Dieppe and the heroic stand of the Princess Pats at Kap’yong, Korea are examples that served notice to the world that Canada was a country united in bravery and purpose.

On Sunday, the cenotaph in Shelburne was the scene of an observance commemmorating yet another vital chapter in our military history, the Normandy invasion and the 14,000 Canadians who stormed the shores of Juno Beach on June 6, 1944.

Ken Wallace was a machine gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force that day. He remembers it well. “I had to sit all day,” he recalled in an interview at the Shelburne Legion following Sunday’s service. “I didn’t get into the fight until 8:00 at night. Maybe that’s why I’m still here, today.”

Mr. Wallace was a strapping 195-pound young man, shouldering his Bren gun and carrying just 10 minutes worth of ammunition, with no idea where to procure any more.

Nevertheless, he was among the Canadians who raced across the wideopen beaches swept with machinegun fire and stormed the gun positions. In fierce hand-to-hand fighting, they fought their way into the towns of Bernières, Courseulles and St. Aubin and then advanced inland, securing a critical bridgehead for the Allied invasion.

Mr. Wallace remembers weighing just 122 pounds when he was wounded two months later, at Cannes, by a strafing German aircraft and knocked out of action.

On Sunday, he looked over at Norma, his wife of 64 years, and two of their six children who were on hand for the service. “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said.. “There was a guy with me that day. He was 18 years old and he was killed.”

Even though 66 years have elapsed and time has dwindled the veterans’ ranks, Mr. Wallace said there are still strong indications that the effort of the Canadian army is still fresh in the minds of many in Europe.

In 2004, he was given a medal of appreciation by the French government. During a recent trip to Amsterdam, he dropped into a bar and, when he went to pay, a patron spoke up: “Put your wallet away, Canada. Your money’s no good here.”

Still, the president of Legion Branch 220 in Shelburne is worried that the Canadian experience in the Word Wars might fade from the memories of Canadians.

On Sunday, Carl Robinson pointed to an army jeep with a sticker that read: “Vimy Ridge. The birth of a nation.”

“That saying, ‘birth of a nation,’ should stay with this country forever,” said Mr. Robinson. “I hope the youth of today carries that on.”

To keep such memories alive, he said, is “one of our biggest challenges.

“Over the past three years, we’ve seen a bigger surge to remember, but it is still a worry.”

Shelburne Mayor Ed Crewson spoke some assuring words that the battlefield sacrifices have not been forgotten. “My sons, and many of their friends. I believe they will be huddled around the television watching ‘Saving Private Ryan.’

“They get it.”