World leaders, including US President Joe Biden and King Charles III, are participating in events across France and the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of France. The largest amphibious invasion in history, the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, played a pivotal role in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Official Ceremonies
President Biden and King Charles III are attending an official ceremony on Omaha Beach, one of the five landing beaches in Normandy, northern France. The invasion saw tens of thousands of soldiers storming these beaches under heavy fire, changing the course of World War II.
Commemorations Across the UK and France
In addition to the main ceremony in Normandy, commemorations are also taking place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, UK, to honor UK veterans who cannot travel to France. The focus of these events remains on the surviving D-Day veterans, many of whom are now in their 90s.
Emotional Tributes
The presence of D-Day veterans has been the highlight of the commemorations, with locals and visitors alike showing deep gratitude. Young mum Vanessa Foulon, queuing with her six-year-old son to get a D-Day commemorative cap signed by an American veteran, explained the significance: "Liberté," she said simply. "They gave us our freedom."
Veterans' Memories
Ninety-nine-year-old US veteran Donald Cobb, who participated in the veterans' march in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, recalled his experience landing on Omaha Beach on that fateful day. "The water was choppy, the wind biting," he recounted. "People here are nice," he added. "We enjoy coming back."
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