The 80th Anniversary of D-Day: A Commemoration in Pictures
In pictures: Events marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of France
Events are currently underway in France and the UK to honor the 80th anniversary of the historic Allied invasion of France on 6 June 1944. Tens of thousands of soldiers landed on five beaches in Normandy, northern France, in what was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. This invasion played a crucial role in the defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of Europe.
Various ceremonies and tributes have been taking place in different locations, such as Gold Beach in Arromanches, Normandy, where Major Trevor Macey-Lillie, a piper with the Scottish gunners, performed a traditional Scottish lament on the bagpipes to commemorate the moment when British troops disembarked onto French beaches.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed attendees at the UK commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, emphasizing the importance of never forgetting the sacrifices made during the D-Day landings. Western leaders including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron also participated in the events.
The British Normandy Memorial, which contains the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell during D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, was used for major anniversary commemorations for the first time. Wreaths were laid by various dignitaries to honor the sacrifices made on that historic day.
The commemorative ceremonies also included a flypast by the Red Arrows and a Eurofighter EF-200 Typhoon, as well as the awarding of the insignia of Knight in the Legion of Honour to 104-year-old British World War II veteran Christian Lamb by President Macron.
The Prince of Wales and Prince William attended the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre, where they thanked Canadian veterans for their bravery and sacrifice. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden also met with World War Two veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-Sur-Mer, where they honored the memory of those who fought and died during the war.
The day was filled with solemn tributes, speeches, and acts of remembrance to ensure that the sacrifices made on D-Day are never forgotten by future generations.