Moving letters from veterans were read out as ceremonies took place in Normandy, France, yesterday to mark the 80th anniversary of the June 6, 1944, Normandy landings — also known as D-Day — when more than 150,000 Allied soldiers invaded France by sea and air to drive out the forces of Nazi Germany.
At the British ceremony in Ver-sur-Mer, veterans were applauded as they filed into the event to take their seats, which were decorated with bright red poppies.
“I want to pay my respects to those who didn’t make it. May they rest in peace,” British veteran Joe Mines said, in words read by actor Martin Freeman. “I was 19 when I landed, but I was still a boy... And I didn’t have any idea of war and killing.”
Photo: AP
“I tried to forget D-Day, but I can’t,” British Royal Navy veteran Ron Hendrey said in words read by actor Douglas Booth. “I’ve lived 80 years since that day, my friends have remained under the earth.”
Both veterans were present at the ceremony.
With war raging in Ukraine on Europe’s borders, this year’s commemoration of this turning point in World War II carries special resonance.
Photo: AFP
The anniversary takes place in a year of many elections, including for the European Parliament this week and in the US in November. Leaders are set to draw parallels with World War II and warn of the dangers of isolationism and the far-right.
Solemn music was played and Tom Jones sang I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall in a ceremony attended by Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.
Charles, in full military uniform, was visibly moved as he paid tribute to those who took part in the landings, as well as the French resistance.
“We recall the lesson that comes to us again and again across the decades: Free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny,” he said.
“Our admiration is eternal,” said Charles, who spoke in both French and English. “Let us pray such sacrifice will never be made again.”
After the ceremony, Charles, Macron and their wives chatted, and shook hands with veterans and other guests.
With the numbers of veterans, many aged 100 or more, fast dwindling, this is likely to be the last major ceremony in Normandy honoring them in their presence.
About 200 veterans, most of them American or British, were set to take part in ceremonies throughout the day on windswept beaches that still bear the scars of the fighting that erupted on D-Day, history’s largest amphibious invasion, in which thousands of Allied soldiers died.
Macron presented a Legion d’Honneur award — France’s highest order of merit — to Christian Lamb, a 103-year-old member of the wartime British female naval service who helped plan the landings, describing her as “a hero in the shadows.”
“You have set us an example, which we’ll not forget. France will never forget the British troops who landed on D-Day and all their brothers in arms,” he said. “We are honored by the ties of remembrance, friendship and loyalty which were forged between our two countries.”
At a separate event at the Normandy American cemetery, US President Joe Biden met with World War II veterans, giving salutes, handshakes and hugs to the men, many in wheelchairs, who traveled to France for the anniversary.
He and his wife, Jill, took photos with the veterans and the president gave them each special commemorative coins.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and many others were due to take part in the day of tributes.
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