New G-G's first foreign visit to Juno Beach

[CHIMO]

Courseulles-sur- Mer — Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean chose Normandy's historic Juno Beach for her first foreign visit Saturday, joining aboriginal youths taking part in a spiritual journey to honour aboriginal veterans and fallen soldiers.

Ms. Jean spent close to an hour inside the Juno Beach Centre with the 14 youths from across Canada, discussing the horrific D-Day battle June 6, 1944 that resulted in almost 1,000 Canadian casualties.

The group then spent several minutes on the sandy shore with two interpreters who painted a vivid picture of that turning point in the Second World War — from the fact it was drizzling rain, to how many men were nauseous from the Force 4 winds rocking their landing barges.

Jean listened intently, asking several questions while also including the youths in the discussion.

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Gov.-General Michaelle Jean carries an eagle feather received from First Nation, Metis and Inuit youth on Juno Beach in Courseullies-sur-Mer, France on Saturday