As young soldiers, they waded ashore in Normandy through gunfire to battle the Nazis. On Thursday, a dwindling number of World War II veterans in a parade of wheelchairs joined a new generation of leaders to honour the dead, the living and the fight for democracy in moving commemorations on and around those same beaches where they landed exactly 80 years ago on D-Day. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded.
US leader Joe Biden, King Charles III of the UK and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, representing the Allied powers, paid tribute to the immense sacrifices made by the tens of thousands of troops on the sandy beaches and cliffs of Normandy, often far from their homes, under intense German counter-fire.
"We recall the lesson that comes to us, again and again, across the decades: free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny," King Charles III said at the British memorial at Ver-sur-Mer that overlooks Gold beach, one of the landing sites for British troops. "Let us pray such sacrifice need never be made again," he said. "Our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the world must continue to stand up for democracy. "Democracy is still under threat today. It is threatened by aggressors who want to redraw borders," he said at the Canadian ceremony in nearby Courseulles-Sur-Mer. "Our way of life did not happen by accident, and it won't continue without effort."
With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joining the Western leaders in Normandy for an international ceremony, the events will provide a hugely symbolic backdrop to talks on how Ukraine can gain back ground after Russian advances.
No Russian official has been invited, underlining Moscow's pariah status in the West after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 despite the decisive Soviet contribution to defeating Nazism in World War II.
The most honoured guests are surviving veterans. Around 200 are expected, a number that is dwindling every year with most at least in their late 90s and some older than 100. This may be the final major anniversary where they are present.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
