Ennis Sisters mark 75th D-Day anniversary with emotional Juno Beach performance

TheEnnis Sisters took to the stage on the shores of Juno Beach in Normandy, France, on Thursday to commemorate the 75thanniversary of D-Day and the Allied invasion of Europe.

"It was such an honour to be on that stage. It's been kind of an unbelievable experience since we've been invited to perform this song here today," Maureen Ennis told CBC Radio's On The Go roughly an hour after the Newfoundland and Labrador folk trioperformedSing You Homeat the siteof oneof history'sfiercest battles.

"To hear all the stories we've heard over the last couple of daysand then have the opportunity to walk on the beach where, 75 years ago, D-Day happened every step that we took on that beach we wondered what happened here. What is the history beneath ourfeet?"

Ennis Sisters perform Sing You Home for D-Day ceremony

5 years ago

Duration 4:42

The Ennis Sisters sang at the massive commemoration ceremony on Juno Beach

On June 6, 1944, some 14,000 Canadians landed at Juno Beach to join the more than 150,000 Allied troops to fight at the five beaches of Normandy that day.

Canadians stormed from the sea with the British on their left and right, attacking Sword Beach and Gold Beach, and the Americans attacking Omaha Beach and Utah Beach.

97-year-old Rod Deon was among those Canadians 75 years ago and he was among the thousands who honoured those fighters in Normandy on Thursday.

Ennis said there was a lot of emotion running through the crowd of spectators.

"The veterans crying it was such an overwhelming, emotional moment for us. I'm surprised that we were able to sing through it," Ennis said.

A memory close to the surface

As the soon as the final notes of Sing You Homerang out, Ennis said the group was whisked away to their dressing room without much time to fully grasp what they had just done.

"But then, as people were coming back here, we heard that our song went over very well, and at the same time people were talking about their experiences with World War II. It's just a very powerful moment to be on this beach today," she said.

"To stand on the beach and lookout over the English channel there, and just be in awe over what happened 75 years ago, there's no feeling like it."

For the veterans of D-Day who had the opportunity to grow old, many more did not.

Ennis said memories of those harrowing days seems close to the surface for many of the veterans in the audience.

"As soon as any kind of emotional thing happened you could see the tears coming down the faces of the veterans sitting in the front," she said.

"It kind of took us back, once we got off stage and they're sitting rightin the front, and you realize that these are the men that lived through that. It's incredible."

A highlight of their career

It was either fate or destiny that the Ennis Sisters were asked to perform during the 75th commemoration of D-Day.

Anorganizer of the event had been driving through Ottawa and heard the group's songSing You Homeon CBC Radio in her car, Ennis said.

Overcome with emotion, the organizer pulled her vehicle over to listen closer. When she got home, she began researching the band, coming across a YouTube video for the song which sealed the deal.

"So they reached out to us and of course we accepted, without any hesitation at all," Ennis said.

"Honestly one of the highlights of our career, to this point, tobe here today."

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