D-Day’s 80th anniversary: Honoring WWII Veterans at the beaches of Normandy

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President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden stand before a wreath at the Normandy American Cemetery following a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Normandy. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Christophe Receveur, of France, unfurls an American flag he bought six months ago in Gettysburg, Penn., to mark D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, on Utah Beach, Normandy. As the sun sets on the D-Day generation, it’s rising again over Normandy beaches where soldiers fought and died exactly 80 years ago, kicking off intense anniversary commemorations Thursday against the backdrop of renewed war in Europe, in Ukraine. (AP Photo/John Leicester)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk in the Normandy American Cemetery following a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Normandy. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk in the Normandy American Cemetery following a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Normandy. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden greets a World War II veteran during ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Normandy. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, greet a World War II veteran during ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Normandy. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Christophe Receveur and his daughter Julie, of France, unfold an American flag he bought six months ago in Gettysburg, Penn., to mark D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, on Utah Beach, Normandy. As the sun sets on the D-Day generation, it’s rising again over Normandy beaches where soldiers fought and died exactly 80 years ago, kicking off intense anniversary commemorations Thursday against the backdrop of renewed war in Europe, in Ukraine. (AP Photo/John Leicester)
Under the cover of naval shell fire, American infantrymen wade ashore from their landing craft during the initial Normandy landing operations in France, on June 6, 1944. More than 2,200 Allied aircraft begin bombing German defenses and other targets in Normandy. They are followed by 1,200 aircraft carrying more than 23,000 American, British, and Canadian airborne troops. British forces landing in gliders take two strategic bridges near the city of Caen. (AP Photo/Peter Carroll, File)
American paratroopers, heavily armed, sit inside a military plane as they soar over the English Channel en route to the Normandy French coast for the Allied D-Day invasion of the German stronghold during World War II, June 6, 1944. Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States, 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops fighting with Gen. Charles de Gaulle. The Allies faced around 50,000 German forces. (AP Photo, File)
US President Joe Biden (C), US First Lady Jill Biden (R), France’s President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) and French President’s wife Brigitte Macron (L) attend 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. The D-Day ceremonies on June 6 this year mark the 80th anniversary since the launch of ‘Operation Overlord’, a vast military operation by Allied forces in Normandy, which turned the tide of World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war against Nazi Germany. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

 

This photograph is believed to show E Company, 16th Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, participating in the first wave of assaults during D-Day in Normandy, France, June 6, 1944. The greatest armada ever assembled, nearly 7,000 ships and boats, supported by more than 11,000 planes, carried almost 133,000 troops across the Channel to establish toeholds on five heavily defended beaches stretched across 80 kilometers (50 miles) of Normandy coast. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded in the first 24 hours. (Chief Photographer’s Mate Robert M. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard via AP, File)
This undated image shows the Howell Dodd graphic that appeared in the June-July 1944 issue of The AP Inter-Office, a printed and illustrated magazine that was offered to AP staff and member newspapers. The graphic shows depictions of the AP correspondents on D-Day. In 1945 the magazine changed its name to AP World. (AP Photo/AP Corporate Archives, Howell Dodd, File)
U.S. reinforcements wade through the surf from a landing craft in the days following D-Day and the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France at Normandy in June 1944 during World War II. On D-Day, Charles Shay was a 19-year-old Native American army medic who was ready to give his life — and actually saved many. Now 99, he’s spreading a message of peace with tireless dedication as he’s about to take part in the 80th celebrations of the landings in Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe from Nazi Germany’s occupation. (Bert Brandt/Pool via AP, File)
US President Joe Biden (C) and French President Emmanuel Macron react with US First Lady Jill Biden 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. The D-Day ceremonies on June 6 this year mark the 80th anniversary since the launch of ‘Operation Overlord’, a vast military operation by Allied forces in Normandy, which turned the tide of World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war against Nazi Germany. (Photo by DANIEL COLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden delivers a speech 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. The D-Day ceremonies on June 6 this year mark the 80th anniversary since the launch of ‘Operation Overlord’, a vast military operation by Allied forces in Normandy, which turned the tide of World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war against Nazi Germany. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron award The Légion d’honneur to American World War II veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 06, 2024 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Veterans, families, political leaders and military personnel are gathering in Normandy to commemorate D-Day, which paved the way for the Allied victory over Germany in World War II.
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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) stand to attention for national anthems, as they attend 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. The D-Day ceremonies on June 6 this year mark the 80th anniversary since the launch of ‘Operation Overlord’, a vast military operation by Allied forces in Normandy, which turned the tide of World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war against Nazi Germany. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
American World War II veterans arrive ahead of meeting U.S. President Joe Biden during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the Normandy American Cemetery on June 06, 2024 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Veterans, families, political leaders and military personnel are gathering in Normandy to commemorate D-Day, which paved the way for the Allied victory over Germany in World War II. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greet American World War II veterans before a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the Normandy American Cemetery on June 06, 2024, in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Veterans, families, political leaders and military personnel are gathering in Normandy to commemorate D-Day, which paved the way for the Allied victory over Germany in World War II. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte Macron, walk on stage during ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Normandy. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, his wife Brigitte Macron, center left, and US President Joe Biden, center right, and first lady Jill Biden attend a ceremony together with World War II veterans at an US cemetery near Colleville-sur-Mer Normandy, Thursday, June 6, 2024. World War II veterans from across the United States as well as Britain and Canada are in Normandy this week to mark 80 years since the D-Day landings that helped lead to Hitler’s defeat. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron reacts after awarding 104-years-old British World War II veteran Christian Lamb, center, who helped to plan the D-Day landings in Normandy, with the insignia of Knight in the Legion of Honor order, during a commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day Allied landings in Normandy, at the World War II British Normandy Memorial of Ver-sur-Mer, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Normandy is hosting various events to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)
France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, left, Britain’s Prince William, the Prince of Wales, center, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lay flowers during the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landing, at the Juno Beach Centre near Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Normandy is hosting various events to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944. (Lou Benoist, Pool via AP)
From left, Britain’s Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanuel Macron, and Brigitte Macron walk through the memorial wall during the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Thursday June 6, 2024. (Gareth Fuller, Pool Photo via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Queen Camilla attend a commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the World War II British Normandy Memorial of Ver-sur-Mer, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Normandy is hosting various events to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)
Britain’s Prince William, the Prince of Wales delivers his speech during the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landing, at the Juno Beach Centre near Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Normandy is hosting various events to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944. (Lou Benoist, Pool via AP)
Britain’s Queen Camilla, left, French President’s wife Brigitte Macron, French President Emmanuel Macron meet with British D-Day veterans during a commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day Allied landings in Normandy, at the World War II British Normandy Memorial of Ver-sur-Mer, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Normandy is hosting various events to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)
Christophe Receveur and his daughter Julie, of France, unfold an American flag he bought six month ago in Gettysburg, Penn., to mark D-Day, Thursday, June 6, 2024, on Utah Beach, Normandy. As the sun sets on the D-Day generation, it’s rising again over Normandy beaches where soldiers fought and died exactly 80 years ago, kicking off intense anniversary commemorations Thursday against the backdrop of renewed war in Europe, in Ukraine. (AP Photo/John Leicester)
Policemen guard the area during the sun is about to rise over Omaha Beach near Colleville-sur-Mer Normandy, Thursday, June 6, 2024. World War II veterans from across the United States as well as Britain and Canada are in Normandy this week to mark 80 years since the D-Day landings that helped lead to Hitler’s defeat. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
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