The Up the Johns! Association is composed of citizens in Normandy who have dedicated themselves to preserving the memory and legacy of the soldiers of the Regina Rifles affectionately known as the ''Johns"-who landed on D-Day and played a crucial role in the liberation of their communities during the Second World War.

In September 2026, the Association will travel to Saskatchewan — many for the first time — to visit the hometowns, loved ones, and farms of the soldiers who landed in France during the war.

The pilgrimage will be both historically meaningful and deeply human. It offers a rare opportunity to tell the story of remembrance not from the battlefield alone, but from the enduring relationships that emerged in its aftermath-relationships that continue more than eighty years later.

Together, the Royal Regina Rifles and the RRR Trust Fund recognize the value in organizing this pilgrimage. It honours our veterans, strengthens international ties, and advances public understanding of the living legacy of the Second World War.