Pay tribute to veterans from the Second World War this weekend with the Battle of the Atlantic Parade in Barrie Ontario The battle took place on the Atlantic Ocean from 1939 to 1945. "The Atlantic was the lifeline from Canada to Britain then, and it's how we transported supplies and food," said Lt. Michael Cassidy, a Navy League of Canada padre. During the war, the Germans decided if they could cut off Britain's supplies, it would win the war, he said. The Battle of the Atlantic put U-boats and other German Navy warships against Allied convoys. In 1940, Italian submarines joined the Germans, and U.S. ships and aircraft aided the Allies in 1941. "Many Canadian sailors died after the U-boats sunk their ships. You have to remember, the merchant marines were volunteers. Even though they knew what they were heading into, their life expectancy was very short." The annual parade - held the first Sunday in May - pays tribute to those who lost their lives at sea. There are very few veterans left. This year's parade is Sunday, May 3 and Cassidy expects approximately 175 people marching. The troops from Base Borden and cadets meet at the bottom of Bayfield Street on Lakeshore Drive at 1:30 p.m., and the parade leaves at 1:40 p.m., travelling east on Simcoe Street to the Cenotaph at Memorial Square. A remembrance service will be held there at 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Dunlop Street will be blocked off from 11 a.m. until the crowds disperse; there's no parking allowed in that area during the event. Vehicles violating the no-parking order will be towed. Remember WW2 sailors this Sunday
