Story Behind the Stone

Julie Verne (British Normandy Memorial) – Commemorating the Fallen Under British Command

"These aren't just names. These were people who had wives, brothers, fathers, mothers, girlfriends at home. Lives cut short. They should be remembered." This week, we speak with Julie Verne from the Normandy Memorial Trust. As we approach the 82nd anniversary of D-Day this year, Julie shares the moving history behind this sanctuary overlooking Gold Beach in France, which serves as a permanent home for over 22,000 individuals who fell under British command. We explore the site's architecture, the ongoing research adding long-lost names to the Roll of Honour, and the groundbreaking education initiatives connecting today's youth to a generation of heroes. In this episode: - Explore the site's brilliant architecture and symbolism, which features 160 stone columns converging into the geometric shape of a Union Jack - Discover the immersive "Operation Remembrance" package at the Winston Churchill Centre for Education, which engages young students through tactical strategy activities, virtual reality reconnaissance missions, and conversational AI modeled after real veteran testimonies - Learn about the unique Youth Ambassador project led by 11-year-old Alexander Churchill, the great-great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, who conducts personal video interviews with World War II veterans to pass their wisdom down to his own peers

Alexander Landry (Babcock Canada, RMC, & CMEA) – Engineering a Path of Service

"My service wasn't going to be necessarily dedicated to a full-time career in the military. It doesn't mean that I can't continue giving back and serving my community and my country." This week, we speak with Alexander Landry, a defence and security professional at Babcock Canada and a military engineer officer with over 14 years of leadership experience. Alexander shares his journey from the Royal Military College to NATO assignments in Turkey and Operation Unifier in Ukraine. We explore the evolution of modern warfare, the strategic importance of Arctic sovereignty, and why a commitment to public service remains the through-line of his family's long military lineage. In this episode: - Explore the shift in NATO’s defence posture and the importance of Article 2, known as the "Canadian Article", which emphasizes economic prosperity and shared democratic values as essential pillars of global security - Learn about the unique role of the "Sapper" and how the Canadian Military Engineer Association provides a vital safety net for the engineer family through advocacy and programs  - Hear about the 150th anniversary of the Royal Military College and the Alumni Association’s ongoing mission to bridge the generational gap between "the old brigades" and the current generation of cadets

Alicia Costello & Ta'Na Alexander (THC & CCTA) – Language as a Tool for Victory

"This story was never lost. It was just waiting to be told." This week, we speak with Alicia Costello, a historian with the Texas Historical Commission, and Ta'Na Alexander, a descendant of an original Choctaw Code Talker. We delve into the collaborative effort to establish a historical marker in Fort Worth that honors the Native soldiers of the 142nd Infantry who utilized a code that was never broken. In this episode: - Discover the significance of the Camp Bowie marker, located on the very grounds where Choctaw soldiers trained in 1917 before deploying to provide a critical advantage in the Great War - Learn about the "Under-Told Markers" program, a special initiative by the Texas Historical Commission that funds markers for stories historically overlooked or missing from the landscape - Understand the legacy of the Telephone Warriors, whose contributions remained a classified secret for decades until public recognition began to flourish following a 1989 visit from the French government

Dr. Geoffrey Bird (Royal Roads University) – The Power of Place and the Future of Memory

"Sometimes that quietness of a place is what makes it so profound." This week, we speak with Dr. Geoffrey Bird, lead of the War Heritage Research Initiative at Royal Roads University. Dr. Bird discusses the transition of remembrance into an activity of learning, the unique resonance found only by standing on historical ground, and how we must ethically navigate the heritage dissonance that technology can bring to sacred memorial sites. In this episode: - Explore the power of place and why standing on the actual undulations of a battlefield allows visitors to connect with the past in a way that documents and documentaries alone cannot achieve - Navigate the ethics of technology in commemoration, specifically the risk of heritage dissonance where digital noise or simulations might interfere with the profound, meaningful silence of a cemetery - Discover the Story Pole project, a film highlighting the experiences of Indigenous veterans and the universal values of justice, peace, and truth anchored in our national monuments

Steve Smith (Battlefield Guide & Author) – Passing the Torch of Remembrance

"Remembrance has to be something that carries on no matter how many years go by." This week, we speak with Steve Smith, a veteran battlefield guide and author who has dedicated his career to uncovering the personal stories of the Great War. Steve shares the journey of tracing his own great-grandfather’s service, the unique challenges of personalizing tours for families traveling from across the Atlantic, and the enduring power of the Menin Gate ceremony. In this episode: - Discover how digital trench maps and original war diaries allow Steve to guide families to a specific field and pinpoint the exact position where their relative served, transforming anonymous history into a deeply personal pilgrimage - Explore the enduring mystery of the 5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, a unit that disappeared from sight at Gallipoli in 1915, leading to theories ranging from wartime executions to extraterrestrial abductions - Hear about the "torch of remembrance" and the next generation, as Steve explains how he engages school groups to ensure that the stories of the fallen continue to resonate a century later