On June 6th, Laughlin Hunter of Portage la Prairie stood proudly on Juno Beach for the 75th Commemorative Ceremony of D-Day.

Hunter is a Private with the Fort Garry Horse Army Reconnaissance Unit, in Winnipeg. He and many other Canadians were honoured to be a part of the day.

On D-Day, they traveled from the Barracks in Caen France to the beach with a police escort. Hunter notes the escort was necessary as thousands gathered to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the allied invasion.

Upon his arrival at the beach, the Chief of the Defence Staff or CDS gave a speech to him and the others, as well as a coin, one of which there are only a few hundred.

Hunter then marched onto the beach with the drums moving them along. He shares it was an emotional experience for all of those who were present, adding, seeing all the veterans waiting for them was the best part.

"Standing in the sun for a couple of hours while listening to the songs and speeches was just a small thing we could do for them," says Hunter. "It meant a lot to just be in their presence."

It was surreal for Hunter, and he insists he'd never been so proud to be Canadian. He outlines many of those who took the beach that day were from communities like Portage.

Following the ceremony, he and the others visited with the veterans and went to the grave sites of the Canadians lost of D-Day. Hunter adds it was a humbling experience for him.