60th D-Day Anniversary [June 6th]

[Onizuka-GTO]

Queen leads D-Day commemorations

Veterans pay respects to lost comrades

Leaders and veterans mark D-Day

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Queen leads D-Day commemorations
The Queen has saluted the "courageous and determined Allied servicemen" who helped the battle to free Europe from Nazi control on D-Day 60 years ago.
She called the 1944 invasion of France "one of the most dramatic military operations in history".

Speaking at Juno Beach, she remembered the 14,000 Canadians who fought alongside British and US servicemen.

She later joined French President Jacques Chirac for a ceremony at the Commonwealth war cemetery in Bayeux.

She is also attending a march-past at Arromanches - the centre point of D-Day commemorations.



Today we honour all those who gave their lives in this campaign and all of you who fought in this great struggle
Queen Elizabeth II
Speaking at Juno Beach of the landings, the Queen said: "It would have been difficult enough for a single nation to plan and execute such an enterprise.

"For a group of allies with little previous experience in co-operation, it was a major triumph."


Later at a British-French service in Bayeux - the first French town of importance to be liberated - the Queen along with Mr Chirac and Prime Minister Tony Blair, paid tribute to the thousands killed in battle.

The town is home to France's largest Commonwealth war cemetery of WWII, with more than 4,200 graves. The nearby Bayeux Memorial commemorates the death of another 1,801 men.

Both the Queen and Mr Blair took time to meet former soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Final opportunity

Mr Blair and US President George Bush are among at least 17 heads of state to join the Queen in France.

Arromanches, the venue for Sunday's main international ceremony, is the site where the Allied invasion first began in 1944.

Some 6,000 Allied vessels headed to the shores of occupied France in the biggest seaborne operation in history.

Of three million men who fought in the subsequent 80-day battle for Normandy, around 250,000 were killed.


For many of the 10,000 old soldiers, sailors and airmen who have travelled to Normandy this year's anniversary may be a final opportunity to revisit the scene of their wartime exploits.



Each one (veteran) will have their own particular memories of what they went through on that particular day
Colonel John Berkshire
For those unable to make the journey to France, there was a memorial service at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, Staffordshire, attended by hundreds of veterans.

Colonel John Berkshire, chairman of the Arboretum, said the ceremony at Bayeux was broadcast on a large screen.

"We have tried to give them the same service and to join in with their comrades."


He said, having spoken to a number of veterans, that many would be reminded of their actions 60 years ago.

He said: "I think the fear - jumping into the water 100 yards out, wading into the shore under fire - I think it will be very personal.

"Each one (veteran) will have their own particular memories of what they went through on that particular day."

"We are all human and we all feel fear under those sort of conditions," he added.

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As for me personally I would like to thank you, To those of the British Empire and Allies
The British, Canadian, Indians, Australian, New Zealanders, Gurka's, Russians, Americans and other Allies.
To our couragous and honourable veterans,
To those who gave their lives, so that we could live today free.

God Save The Queen!