World leaders gathered in Normandy on June 6 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of one of the largest military operations in history: the Normandy landings. Emotional crowds looked on at the American cemeteries of Colleville-sur-Mer and Omaha Beach, where the bravery of hundreds of veterans who survived that tragic day was honoured.
The skies were a clear, deep blue, in contrast to the fog that covered the horizon on June 6, 1944. Eighty years after Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, liberating Nazi-occupied France, people from all over the world were gathering in northern France to commemorate those who lost their lives on that tragic day.
With only a few hundred veterans still alive to tell their stories, many of them in their 90s and in frail health, this year may be the last major anniversary to count survivors of the Normandy landings among its participants.
“I’m not normally that interested in history, but being here has given me a whole new perspective,” said Justin McLaren, an American soldier who works in U.S. Army public affairs. Stationed in Germany, McLaren has attended many military events across Europe over the past few years, but this is his first time in France.
Justin McLaren is a US Army soldier working in public affairs. © Lara Brence, France 24
“We recently had a very moving encounter with a veteran who landed near Sainte-Mère-Église,” McLaren said, referring to the town where the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division landed during the Normandy landings. “He told us he had parachuted into a greenhouse, so we decided to escort him to that exact spot, which has since been restored and is still standing,” McLaren said as he led reporters and participants to their assigned seats at the U.S. military cemetery ahead of the U.S. ceremony.
“I saw the tears rolling down his cheeks and it was so moving,” McLaren said, his eyes shining.
“History comes alive” at Normandy American Cemetery
Two large flagpoles hoisted vibrant flags against the backdrop of the rising sun, adorning a red-carpeted walkway leading to the stage where a US ceremony was held to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
The Normandy American Cemetery, located on a hill overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, contains the graves of 9,387 American soldiers who died on June 6, 1944. It was opened on July 18, 1956 and covers a total area of about 70 hectares. About 12,000 people attended the commemorative event to commemorate the achievements of 59,000 American soldiers who participated in Operation Overlord, the code name for the Normandy landings.
The slogans for this year’s ceremony are “Respect” and “Tradition,” the latter being the driving force for many who traveled from far away to attend. Ashley Harris and her husband traveled from New York to watch the memorial with their three children, ages 1, 6 and 11. “We wanted them to see our veterans. History coming to life,” Harris said, embracing her daughter, Hunter.
Both Harris and her husband are descendants of World War II veterans: “My grandfather served in the U.S. Navy and fought in the Normandy landings. My husband’s grandfather also fought during the war. He was in the British Army,” she explained.[Our children] They never got to meet their great-grandparents, so it’s important to us that they get to meet these incredibly heroic veterans.”
Ashley Harris and her daughter Hunter at the American ceremony. © Lara Brens, France 24
The traits that have helped the lucky few American soldiers survive are values the Harrises want to instill in their children. “Today is a day that changed the course of history, a day that embodied the great courage and heroism of our ancestors,” she said with a smile. “And what better way to pass that on to future generations than to show it to our children.” [those traits] You meet them, you experience their world, you live their world.”
Participants were instructed to take their seats and the ceremony began. About 50 veterans, wearing uniforms decorated with pins and badges they had collected over the years, filed toward the main stage. The emotion was palpable; tears were already flowing from the audience as close-ups of elderly survivors were shown on the big screen.
“D-Day should be a very important theme, because it changed the world completely and it’s the reason we are free today,” said Sabine, a French security guard, as she looked toward the stage. Shortly after, French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden walked forward together, accompanied by their respective partners, Brigitte Macron and Jill Biden.
After the crowd rose to their feet for the French and U.S. national anthems, Macron took the stage to present 11 U.S. veterans with the Legion of Honor, France’s highest military and civilian award. Seeing the emotion in the veterans’ eyes, Sabine was moved to tears. “I will continue to attend these ceremonies as much as I can. It’s a duty for me,” she said.
Macron took the microphone to address the last survivors of D-Day, calling the Normandy American Cemetery a “sanctuary.” Turning to the soldiers he officially recognized as heroes, the president said, “You came here, together with our soldiers, to make France a free country. And today you have come home.”
The ceremony concluded with speeches from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Biden. “If you want to know the price of freedom, come to Normandy,” Biden said sternly, ending his solemn speech with a warning: “Democracy is never guaranteed,” Biden concluded.
The crowd applauded as F-35 fighter jets flew overhead, and the leaders of the two countries headed to the next event, an international ceremony at Omaha Beach.
Ode to Ukraine on Omaha Beach
Clouds slowly began to gather as people descended onto the beach known as “Bloody Omaha.” This was one of the most famous landing sites of Operation Overlord, but also one of the deadliest. The attacking U.S. 1st Infantry Division suffered its worst test of D-Day. Caught under intense German artillery fire, a total of 2,500 American soldiers died here.
Around a dozen political leaders and heads of state attended the ceremony, including Prince William, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who stole the show. He took to the stage in his usual army green T-shirt and beige khaki pants, and the crowd went wild. The cheers continued as Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, shook hands with the suited-up presidents.
Hundreds of veterans from the United States, Canada and France attended the ceremony, but only a select few walked onto the stage, took their seats and shook hands with political leaders.
Caught up in the excitement around them, two students from a Paris middle school with neurodevelopmental disabilities cheered with joy: “We can’t believe we’re here, these are the veterans who came to help us, who resisted and liberated us!” said 14-year-old Omar, beaming. “We’re lucky to have been invited and to meet these people, some of whom are 100 years old.”
His schoolmate Alice echoed his enthusiasm: “It’s cold but it’s wonderful to see all these people – world leaders, Prince William and soldiers!” she said with a smile. “It’s a shame King Charles isn’t here though,” she added jokingly.
Once the audience was seated, a series of performances ensued: schoolchildren sang choruses and danced in unison, members of the French navy came onstage playing bagpipes and drums, paratroopers floated on the sands of Omaha Beach, and European flags were waved as the EU’s official song, “Ode to Joy,” played.
To conclude the speech, President Macron took to the stage to speak. After recounting the horrific events that took place 80 years ago, he addressed the crowd with the same gravitas that President Biden did at the American Cemetery: “Faced with the return of war to the continent, [in Ukraine] “…And we will stand up to those who insist on changing borders by force and rewriting history, and become worthy of those who landed here,” the president declared, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Turning to Zelenskyy, the president continued, “I thank the Ukrainian people for their courage and taste of freedom. We are here, and we will not weaken.”
On this memorable occasion, the fight for Ukraine seems to mirror the struggle for freedom during the Normandy landings, not just for the political leaders taking part in today’s commemorations.
Back at the Normandy American Cemetery, a group of volunteers from Ukraine Focus, a U.S. charity that provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine, were on their way to deliver 45 to 50 ambulances to the war-torn country to take part in the 80th anniversary commemorations of the landings.
“We’re leaving tomorrow, we’re driving to the border, where the Ukrainian National Guard will take over the vehicle, and then we’ll go to Kiev and Bucha,” explained volunteer Robert “Bob” Allen, 78, from San Diego. “This is a pretty special opportunity. One ambulance can save about 10,000 lives,” he said.
Robert “Bob” Allen traveled from San Diego with the US charity Ukraine Focus to Normandy, where he then delivered an ambulance to Ukraine. © Lara Brence, France 24
Allen said he was grateful to be able to take part in the commemoration after recently learning that many of his family members, including four of his cousins, fought in World War II. “I’m learning more and more about my family’s involvement and that’s really what motivated me to be here today and make this journey for this charity,” he said with a smile.
“Tears were flowing as I walked through the cemetery,” he said, fighting back tears streaming down his cheeks as he said goodbye to the historic site.
