Jake’s Gift, the story of a Canadian Second World War veteran’s reluctant trip back to France for the 60th anniversary of D-Day, returned to Lacombe for the third time on Sunday, drawing a crowd of about 140 to the local Legion.

The one-woman play was written and performed by Montreal actress Julia Mackey, who herself visited Normandy for the anniversary in 2004.

Mackey says she created the main character, Jake, before the trip.

“He’s a character I created before I went to Normandy. I felt stuck with the story I was creating about these three brothers from the prairies and their connection to the war. Jake’s (story) is a combination of all the guys that I met over there,” Mackey says.

The show was preceeded by a pipeband performance.

In her production, Jake meets Isabelle, an inquisitive 10-year-old French girl who tends to the graves of fallen soldiers. She also drives the plot forward and acts as the story’s narrator.

If Jake is a composite of veterans, Mackey says Isabelle represents the legacy of remembrance.

“She is that that younger generation whom the older generation hopes will carry that torch of remembrance and will continue to remember long after a lot of these guys are gone,” she says.

Mackey says she hopes people will make an effort to remember veterans of all generations, including those who've served in more recent conflicts.

Jake’s Gift is a way for her to do her part.

“Based on experiences meeting people over the years, I have really strong faith that legacy will continue, those sacrifices will not be forgotten,” she says. “I’ve made a promise to them that I’d continue to tell this story as long as I can.”