View Royal firefighters hobnob with PM in France
View Royal fire chief Paul Hurst, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Luiet. Heath Bevan and firefighter Jim Adams in Normany, France. Harper is holding a photo of Hurst's grandfather who fought at Juno Beach during the Second World War.
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Updated: June 26, 2009 4:34 PM
When members of View Royal Fire Rescue went to Juno Beach for the anniversary of D-Day, they had no idea they would leave having met the prime minister.
View Royal fire Chief Paul Hurst, together with Lieut. Heath Bevan, firefighter Jim Adams and friend Faron Kolbe, recently vacationed together for 10 days in Europe, touring the battle fields of the Second World War. It was at the 65th anniversary ceremony for D-Day on June 6 that the gentlemen had the opportunity to brush shoulders with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Normandy, France.
They saw the PM walking down the beach and asked to chat for a few minutes, Hurst said. Harper obliged, even posing for a photo holding a framed print of Hurst's grandfather who landed on Juno Beach the morning of D-Day, 1944.
Sgt. George Day Hurst was in the first Canadian artillery regiment to fire on German troops from land on D-Day. He survived the war, returning home to family in 1945.
"(Harper's) very personable, very friendly," Hurst said. "It's nice he took the time to stop, say hi and recognize my grandfather."
The real highlight of the trip though was meeting veterans, Hurst said. The men travelled more than 3,600 kilometres retracing the steps of soldiers during the war. No matter how many history books you read, the only way to gain a a real perspective on the war is to meet the people who were there, he said.
"We all have such an incredible respect for our veterans and soldiers for what they did and what they do," he said."So we figured, what better way to recognize their sacrifices then to actually go there and shake their hands and thank them personally for what they did."
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
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