The 75th Anniversary of D-Day is a little more meaningful to Karen McLeod of Liverpool.
That’s because her father, Pte. George H. Baker, inspired the design of the Royal Canadian Mint’s 2019 silver dollar, commemorating the anniversary.
Film footage shows one Canadian soldier patting another on the shoulder just before storming Juno Beach in France on D-Day.
It’s that image that is featured on the coin.
This still from video footage of Pte. Baker inspired the design of the mint’s new coin. (Royal Canadian Mint)
McLeod says it has significant meaning.
“It brings tears to my eyes when I look at that coin. That coin shows my father’s representation on it but it’s not just for him, it’s for every person that got off those landing crafts that day at Juno (Beach).”
She adds it’s a special moment.
“He would’ve been proud and I know he was proud of being a soldier, but he wasn’t the type of person to want to be in the spotlight.”
Baker fought at Juno Beach as a 20 year-old in the North Shore Regiment.
He survived and returned home to raise a family.
Baker died in 2003 at age 80.
