80 years since D-Day, world leaders share words of honor
Jun 6, 2024, 9:05 AM
Douglas C-47 aircraft fly over as US President Joe Biden (2nd R), US First Lady Jill Biden (R), France's President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) and his wife Brigitte Macron (L) walk past flag-bearers during the US ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II "D-Day" Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
NORMANDY, France — It’s been 80 years since D-Day, the day the Allies invaded Western Europe in World War II, and the tides turned allowing the defeat of the Nazis. Leaders across the world are honoring the event.
According to News Nation, over 4,000 troops died, while storming the beaches of Normandy, France, among them over 2,000 Americans. CNN reports that while most troops present at D-Day were American, English and Canadian, troops from Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Zimbabwe and Poland were all present.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden are in Normandy. President Biden gave a speech to honor the anniversary.
Join me as I deliver remarks from Normandy, France on the 80th anniversary of D-Day – honoring all those who bravely served and sacrificed for our liberty and prosperity. https://t.co/fFOgA817fq
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 6, 2024
CNN reports President Biden acknowledged the importance of America’s alliances with various countries.
“Now imagine what they had to come through — I was here 30 years ago, came in on a landing craft. You could see from out there what they saw here. The idea that they get off those boats, they get off those landing crafts, many of them died, sinking — you come across that beach, as long as it — it’s just astounding. It’s astounding,” he said in an interview with ABC News. “What it says to me is, how critical alliances are, how critical alliances are for our security.”
French President honors D-Day
French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the ceremony.
For freedom.
Eternal gratitude to our Allies. pic.twitter.com/MReXM8y8iv— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 6, 2024
He praised the American troops who participated in D-Day, according to CNN.
“We are linked by the grandeur of a people ready to die on a land that is not their own, but a cause that is theirs,” he said in a speech. “You left everything, crossed the ocean and landed on the coast of France eight decades ago… you left everything and risked everything for our independence, for our freedom. That we will never forget.”
Leaders from the United Kingdom and Canada were also present at the ceremony.
