D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration highlights

Eighty years ago, On June 6, 1944, Allied troops successfully landed on the beaches of Normandy, taking a decisive step toward the end of WWII. On that date, world leaders gathered in France to commemorate D-Day.

To commemorate the significant anniversary, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted three days of events, starting June 5 with tributes to French troops and civilians who gave their lives 80 years ago.

On the anniversary day, world leaders met WWII veterans on Omaha Beach in France for a ceremony.

Two hundred veterans, roughly 98 to 107 years old, attended the ceremony to remember their fallen comrades. Twenty-four heads of state also participated.

American President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Emmanuel Macron for all three commemorative days.

The King of England, Charles III, also traveled to France to pay tribute to veterans at a British memorial in Ver-sur-Mer. He did not attend the Omaha Beach ceremony, but other European monarchs did.

The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the Italian President, Sergio Matarella, and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, were the leaders who attended the D-Day ceremony.

According to the Associated Press, President Zelenzky had an exceptional welcome as he entered the ceremony. Attendees cheered and applauded as he passed by.

Many leaders were focused on the war in Ukraine as they commemorated D-Day. Macron and Biden used their speeches to reiterate their support for Ukraine.

On the other hand, Russia's Vladimir Putin was not invited to the ceremony this year. The French government told local media that, given the context of the war in Ukraine, Russian authorities would be excluded.

Despite excluding Russian authorities, French authorities did commemorate fallen Russian soldiers and the "decisive contribution" of the country, officials told the news agency AFP.

A charter flight landed in Deauville, near the ceremony site, on June 2 with 60 Americans who joined the rest of British and Canadian veterans. All French D-Day veterans have passed away.

The ceremony kickstarted with British paratroopers landing on the beach. However, unlike 80 years ago, they were met only by border officials with passport readers so they could pass customs and enter France.

The veterans were visibly emotional as they arrived at the French beaches where they lost so many friends and comrades eight decades ago. They also pledged to younger generations to not forget what they did there.

Fifteen veterans received the Legion of Honor award, France’s highest order of merit. Among them was a 103-year-old female British veteran officer who created the maps that guided the landing craft crews on D-Day.

According to the Associated Press, Emmanuel Macron warmly embraced the veterans as he awarded them. "You came here to make France a free nation. You're back here today at home, if I may say," he expressed.

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