80 Years After D-Day, UK Veterans Return to France to Honor Fallen Comrades
King Charles III led an 80th-anniversary ceremony to honor the British servicemen who sacrificed their lives in Normandy on D-Day.
During the commemorative event on Wednesday, a few surviving D-Day veterans wiped away tears as King Charles III paid tribute to their fallen comrades from 80 years ago.
On June 6, 1944, around 4,400 British, Canadian, and American troops lost their lives, while 9,000 others were wounded or reported missing in action.
The British troops were assigned to Gold and Sword beaches, Canadians to Juno beach, and U.S. forces to Utah and Omaha beaches.
Born in 1948, the king expressed his deep gratitude to those who fought on D-Day to liberate France and defeat Nazi Germany.
In his remarks, King Charles stated, “Our armed forces displayed remarkable resolve and determination on the beaches of Normandy, at sea, and in the skies above.”
The monarch concluded by saying, “Our gratitude remains unwavering, and our admiration is eternal.”
‘Our Gratitude Is Unfailing’
He continued, “Many never returned home, sacrificing their lives on the D-Day battlefields and subsequent conflicts.”
Less than 100 British D-Day veterans are alive today, and many were unable to attend the ceremony due to health reasons.
Every year, the number of surviving veterans decreases. Recently, David Teacher, one of the first to land on Normandy beaches in 1944, passed away at the age of 100.
Joining King Charles and Queen Camilla at the ceremony were Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron in the town of Ver-sur-Mer.
Biden Draws Ukraine Analogy
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden participated in a ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery. In his speech, he drew parallels between Adolf Hitler’s ambitions during WWII and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Addressing the current situation, Mr. Biden stated, “The struggle between dictatorship and freedom is ongoing, as seen in Ukraine’s invasion by a tyrant seeking domination.”
King Charles did not reference Ukraine in his speech but highlighted the historic significance of D-Day and how the wartime generation faced the ultimate test with courage and determination.
After his address, the king saluted during the Last Post and observed a minute of silence.
While some D-Day veterans stood and saluted, others remained seated with closed eyes.
Notable actor Martin Freeman read the words of Joe Mines, a 99-year-old veteran from London, who attended the event to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Veteran Back to ‘Pay My Respects to Those Who Didn’t Make It’
Another veteran, former RAF Sgt. Bernard Morgan, aged 100, was pushed in his wheelchair to the ceremony by Prime Minister Sunak.
During the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre, Prince Charles represented Britain, while Prince William joined Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, along with Canadian D-Day veterans and armed forces personnel.
France’s President Macron bestowed the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest medal, upon U.S. veterans and former British naval officer Christian Lamb, 104, described as a “hero in the shadows” for her crucial role during D-Day.
Despite suffering heavy casualties on D-Day, the British, Canadian, and U.S. troops successfully established a beachhead, leading to the liberation of key territories in France.
Mr. Macron affirmed, “France will always remember the British troops who landed on D-Day and their comrades.”
PA Media contributed to this report.
