D-Day 79th Anniversary| Veterans and Visitors Gather to Honor Sacrifice and Reflect on Current Conflicts

World War II veterans, officials, and visitors gathered on Tuesday to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the largest naval, air, and land operation in history. Taking place on the beaches of Normandy, this year’s ceremonies also served as a somber reminder of the current conflict in Ukraine.

At dawn, reenactors assembled at Omaha Beach, with some carrying flowers and others waving American flags in tribute to the young soldiers who fought for freedom, leading to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

Marie Scott, a 97-year-old World War II veteran who served as a communication operator during the D-Day operation in Portsmouth, Britain, voiced her disgust at the ongoing war in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “For me, war should only be undertaken if it’s absolutely, if there’s no other way of solving the problem. It’s an atrocity. That’s how I feel,” she said.

British veteran Mervyn Kersh, who landed on Gold Beach on D-Day, urged Western allies to send maximum military aid to Ukraine, stating, “The only way to stay free is to be strong.”

A ceremony was held at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place for 9,386 United States soldiers. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley attended the event. For Gen. Milley, who is nearing the end of his four-decade military career, the visit to Normandy held special significance.

An international ceremony took place at the nearby British Normandy Memorial, where officials from Germany and the nine principal Allied nations were present.

Visitors to the American Cemetery expressed gratitude for the sacrifices made by those who fought and died during the D-Day landings. Jean-Philippe Bertrand, a visitor from Marseille, said, “You hear about it on the news and you see the pictures. But once you’re here and you see the reality and the sacrifice that has been made for our beautiful country — I wanted to make the trip once in my life to thank all these people to whom we owe so much.”

German professor Andreas Fuchs, who organized a student exchange program to Normandy, highlighted the importance of educating younger generations about the liberation of Europe and the peace that has lasted for 80 years.