The Washington Post did a lovely photo montage and article showing the last of the WWII veterans who came to Normandy to celebrate this momentous occasion. There were quite a few considering that they are all over 100 years old. The photos are wonderful and very moving.
Here is the link to the article (gifted): https://wapo.st/4aQVRGe
Thank you for sharing the article, lovely photos. I found this story quite touching, a British woman was awarded the Legion d'honneur by President Macron for her part in drawing maps for D-Day. She looks amazing for 103!
Thanks Mardee, amazing old veterans still looking quite able to be there! God bless them.
Wonderful. Thank you. We were there in April. So moving.
Thanks Mardee - I really appreciated the article. When I looked at the pictures of the reenactors, all I could think about was that the soldiers on D-Day were so very much younger.
It was moving to see the national leaders (most of them) gathered together for the final event, as well as the events during the day, even the reenactment of of a landing.
How good to keep alive the events and memories of D-Day 80 yrs ago! I have appreciated the various news programming that I have been seeing and reading the last couple days. The concern how this can all fade away. Going to Normandy several years ago and doing an Overlord tour was so meaningful to us! Walking those beaches and seeing those cliffs…sensing the reality of what happened there. What honor, duty and sacrifice listening to the stories of those 100 yr old veteran survivors who lived it…
Thank you Mardee and CL for sharing the articles.
And here's a short video capturing snippets of President Macron awarding the Chevallier of the Legion of Honor to 11 US World War II veterans at the D Day ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery.
If you’d like to see the whole sequence, it’s available on the video recording of the entire Normandy American Cemetery ceremony, available on the ABMC’s YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/live/IoXxto2ZLS4?si=2i9LCFawxNFVrqwX
Macron starts making his remarks at 59:05 (I don’t see subtitles or hear a translation). Then they tell about the Legion of Honor and at 1:08:05 of the video, he starts presenting individually to each of the 11 veterans. He says it in French, but you can understand well enough, as it’s a simple concept for each man.
For each recipient, he says their name and then says “in the name of the French Republic, we make you a Chevallier of the Legion of Honor.” To see these veterans working hard to stand up to receive the honor, and to see the exchange between them and the French and then American president — it’s unbelievably moving.
Oh my. Beautiful. The veterans standing to receive the honor took my breath away. Thank you Kim.
The entire Omaha Beach ceremony (3h40) can be watched here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PV1BoxXuP8
The ceremony itself begins here:
For those wondering the difference:
The Normandy American Cemetery ceremony was, as the name implies, held at the Normandy Cemetery - it was the US-led ceremony, which President Macron attended as a guest.
The Omaha Beach ceremony was the international ceremony, hosted by President Macron and welcoming leaders from all Allied nations (well except the Russians).
There were also separate ceremonies in the morning hosted by the Brits (at Ver-sur-Mer) and the Canadians. Macron attended the British ceremony and sent his prime minister to the Canadian ceremony.
Kim, thank you for the explanation and for sharing the truly touching videos.
