The Summerland Legion hosted a celebration for a Summerland D-Day veteran as he turned 100.
The birthday lunch for Richard Norris was held July 9, with family members, members of the Legion and dignitaries present.
His birthday cake was brought in accompanied by bagpipers.
Norris is in good health and is still able to drive.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy to be here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been paying taxes for 80 years. When do I get a rebate?鈥�
Norris, one of the few remaining Second World War veterans in Summerland, served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War.
Able Seaman Richard 鈥淒ick鈥� Edward Norris reported to the HMCS Discovery in April 1942, when he was 17. By May of that year, he left for Britain from Halifax.
In June, 1944, Norris was assigned to Landing Craft Large (LCI L) No. 285, one of the first 10 ships to reach Juno Beach. He was the gunner-assistant on the forward 20m Oerlikon gun.
He was the lead man trailing a floating guide rope which the disembarking soldiers used to guide them from ship to shore.
鈥淥ur job, with 30 ships in all, was to land troops and armour faster than the Germans could respond,鈥� he later, reflecting on that mission. 鈥淥verhead were round-the-clock bombing missions, countless tons of ammunition were delivered per raid, along with long-range naval bombardment, inshore salvos by destroyers and frigates.
Norris, 19 at that time, was the youngest member of the crew of his ship.
Three days later, floating pontoon docks were set in place and larger ships delivered troops.
Norris was then reassigned to HMCS Hawksbury on convoy escort from Scotland to Newfoundland and on to Halifax.
In December, 1945, he returned to his family in Gibson鈥檚 Landing, B.C.
In June, 1999, Norris returned to Juno Beach, representing the Royal Canadian Navy Association. Then, in 2019, he received an honour from the French government for his role in the D-Day landing.
鈥淚t is awarded in recognition of your personal involvement in the liberation of our country during World War II,鈥� Nicolas Chapuis, ambassador of France to Canada said in a letter to Norris. 鈥淭hrough you, France remembers the sacrifice of all your compatriots who came to liberate French soil.鈥�
At Norris鈥檚 birthday celebration at the Summerland Legion, he was presented with a plaque containing a poem he had earlier co-authored. The poem was dedicated to the Merchant Navy and the Canadian Navy.
On a Sailor鈥檚 tomb, no roses bloom.
They do not with their comrades rest,
Beneath the crosses row on row
But cradled deep in the Ocean鈥檚 breast,
Lulled by her Ebb and Flow
Sleep well brave hearts, your land is Free,
Your duty with courage met, we bow in grateful memory,
Lest we forget, lest we forget.
John Dorn of the Summerland Legion said the poem will be read each year at Remembrance Day observances. in Summerland.