US President Joe Biden is set to arrive at Pointe du Hoc in Normandy in a few minutes, joining Western leaders in commemorating the anniversary of the largest Allied operation against Nazi Germany during World War II.
The US leader will draw parallels between the over 150,000 allied troops who fought for the liberation of Europe from Adolf Hitler's Nazis on June 6, 1944, and Ukraine's current struggle against Russia's ongoing 27-month invasion. National security adviser, Jake Sullivan, mentioned that Biden will emphasize the significance of that moment as an existential battle between dictatorship and freedom, underscoring the importance of democracy.
Biden's speech is expected to echo the sentiments of former President Ronald Reagan, who visited Pointe du Hoc in 1984. Reagan stood at the clifftop, which was scaled by US Army Rangers in a daring raid on D-Day, capturing German artillery pieces that could have inflicted greater damage on the invasion beaches. In his memorable speech, Reagan honored the bravery of the Rangers, referring to them as the champions who helped free a continent and the heroes who contributed to ending the war.
Reagan's emotional address, delivered in front of a stone memorial bearing the Rangers' emblem, resonated deeply with the surviving veterans of the raid and the audience. Reflecting on the significance of the location and the sacrifices made by those who fought on D-Day, Biden's speech is expected to underscore the enduring values of democracy and the ongoing struggle for freedom in today's world.
