Guelph veteran William 'Bill' Seifried had seen the worst of France when he landed there 80 years ago during World War II with rifle in his hand. Now he got to see it 'peaceful and beautiful.'
Seifried remembers landing in France. “Bullets fell like rain when we landed in Normandy,” he said.
“We were in small boats. The Germans were on the other side of the hill. It was terrible. So many people died. My major asked if I could go out and see how many fellas lost their lives. I counted 24 just that night.”
In June Seifried revisited Juno Beach and took part in a ceremony honouring those that helped liberate France.
One of three living Regina Rifle veterans, Seifried, 99, is the only one able to be present for the unveiling of the special statue honouring the regiment on June 5.
