World War II veterans joined world leaders on the shores of Normandy on Thursday to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the monumental Allied invasion which turned the tides of World War II.
The ceremonies were attended by U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, among others, according to the Associated Press (AP). During the ceremony, President Macron awarded 11 U.S. veterans with France’s highest medal of honor, the Legion of Honor.
The D-Day invasion occurred on June 6, 1944, when nearly 160,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy. The historic event led to the conclusion of World War II and the downfall of the Nazi party. The 2024 anniversary marks a momentous occasion as few surviving veterans of the invasion remain.
President Biden gave a speech during the ceremony, emphasizing the heroic sacrifices made by the soldiers on D Day and drawing connections between the events of World War II and the current Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"Today, we remember all the Americans who laid down their lives on D-Day to help end the tyranny of fascism across Europe, liberate oppressed peoples, and ensure the flame of liberty would burn bright around the world. Their success marked the beginning of the end of Nazi brutality, World War II, and the Holocaust — one of the darkest chapters in human history", stated Biden.
"As we reflect on the sacrifices made on D-Day, we are reminded that freedom is not free and it has never been guaranteed. Every generation has to earn it, fight for it, and defend it in the battle between autocracy and democracy — between the greed of a few and the rights of many. Eighty years after our Nation’s brave Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines embarked on D-Day...may we honor the faith they kept in our Nation and their legacy by upholding the future that they died for — one grounded in freedom, democracy, opportunity, and equality for all."
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