WW II postcard campaign reminds Canadian homeowners that fallen ‘lived where you live’
The Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France, recently launched its “He Lived Where You Live” program to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945. As part of this initiative, postcards were sent to 1,945 addresses across Canada, each containing the name, story, and fate of a military member who had lived at that location before enlisting in the war effort.
One such recipient was Gary Domski and his family in Toronto, who received a postcard honoring Pte. Peter Forbes Flett, a member of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. Flett tragically lost his life on November 2, 1944, at the age of 20, just two days after being wounded in combat in the Netherlands. His final resting place is the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium. Domski shared that he was already familiar with Flett’s story due to a letter from one of the late soldier’s relatives, detailing the family’s history at their residence.
Reflecting on the significance of receiving the postcard, Domski expressed the importance of connecting personally with the sacrifices made during wartime. He emphasized the value of educating his children about Canadian history and the impact of honoring those who gave their lives for their country. Domski noted that the postcard serves as a poignant reminder and a unifying force for the nation.
Sal Falk, a spokesperson for the Juno Beach Centre Association, highlighted the program’s goal of paying tribute to Canada’s fallen soldiers while fostering community engagement with personal stories from the war. By conducting extensive research using archival resources, the Centre identified 1,945 service personnel who were honored through the postcard campaign, focusing on individuals who died between July 1944 and May 1945.
Among the recipients was an address in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, where Cpl. Gerald Austin Ellis resided before enlisting in the army in 1944. Ellis, a machinist at Trenton Industries steel plant, fought in Europe and was killed in action in the Netherlands in 1945. His sacrifice, along with over 45,000 Canadians who died in the war, is commemorated through initiatives like the Juno Beach Centre’s postcard campaign.
Falk emphasized the overwhelming response to the program, noting its success in reaching Canadians at home and providing a connection to historical events. The Juno Beach Centre’s efforts to bring history into households across the country serve as a meaningful way to honor the sacrifices made by Canadian service personnel during World War II.
