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ing Ortona Local high school students among 4 ,400 in Italy to help commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Ortona In 1943, in the middle of World War II, Canadian troops participated in a battle that would ultimately become their legacy. Having moved north along the rocky coastline of the Adriatic Sea, Canada’s soldiers invaded the small village of Ortona, a war-torn but formidable German stronghold. Amid heavy rubble and debris, brave Canadians fought against the German Occupation on behalf of the Allied Forces. German soldiers fired from within the evacuated city’s crumbling buildings, and com- bat raged along the narrow and winding city streets. The 8-day battle was small but intense, resulting, in nearly 1,400 Canadian casualties and considered one of the most violent battles of World War II. In fact, Ortona had been a territory Hitler ordered to be defended at all costs, and the Canadian soldiers were met with exceptional force. Yet despite the severe opposition and the bru- tal fighting that thundered past Christmas Day, Ca- nadian troops pressed the Germans into retreat and conquered the city. It was a remarkable victory that marked the dissolution of German control and the merit of Canada’s Italian Campaign contribution. To the 65th of the Battle of Ortona, and the historic contribution of our Canadian soldiers, students from Port Perry High School are joining with students from across Canada to participate in this national pilgrimage of students. Our students are travelling to Ortona not only to show that they “do remember and that they do care” but they are also going to personally represent a Ca- Not only has each student been personally assigned a soldier that died in the baitle of Ortona or the Italian Cam- paign, but has also been assigned a soldier that is stationed in Afghanistan in the “Hands Across The Generations Me- morial” project. They will be representing the brave young nadian who died at this definitive moment in Cana- Platoon Commander Lieutenant |. MacDonald (with binoculars) ready to give da’s history. order to attack at S. Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943. 18 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2008