Thursday, June 6, 2024, marks the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. The program for the day includes ceremonies on most of the five landing beaches: Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword. The main international commemoration will take place at 3 pm on Omaha beach.
US President Joe Biden will lead the ceremony at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha beach at 12:30 pm on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance. Biden flew into France with his wife Jill Biden on Wednesday evening, before flying to Normandy on Thursday morning. He met with veterans before the event.
US President Joe Biden speaks with US WWII veteran Robert “Bob” Gibson before the US ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. SAUL LOEB / AFPUS actor Tom Hanks (L) and US director Steven Spielberg (R) attend the US ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, June 6, 2024. SAUL LOEB / AFP
A ceremony hosted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak alongside King Charles III and Macron took place earlier on Thursday at the British Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, overlooking Juno and Gold beaches, where many of the British troops landed.
The French president delivered his speech in English and presented French medals of honor to British veterans who had contributed to the war effort.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron addresses British D-Day veterans as Brigitte Macron, Britain’s Queen Camilla and Britain’s King Charles III look on at the World War II British Normandy Memorial near the village of Ver-sur-Mer which overlooks Gold Beach and Juno Beach in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFPBritain’s King Charles III, Britain’s Queen Camilla, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, French President’s wife Brigitte Macron and Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend the commemorative ceremony at the World War II British Normandy Memorial in Normandy, on June 6, 2024. LUDOVIC MARIN / VIA REUTERSBritain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives for the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, on June 6, 2024. GARETH FULLER / AFPA person carries the Union Jack flag during the commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the World War II British Normandy Memorial near the village of Ver-sur-Mer which overlooks Gold Beach in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. LUDOVIC MARIN / VIA REUTERS
Also on Thursday morning, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosted a French-Canadian ceremony alongside his counterpart Gabriel Attal and Britain’s Prince William on Juno Beach, where many Canadian troops had landed.
France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal delivers a speech during the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre near the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer, in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. LOU BENOIST / VIA REUTERSBritain’s Prince William, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal arrive to attend the Canadian commemorative ceremony, at the Juno Beach Centre near the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer, in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. LOU BENOIST / AFPParachutists drop in ahead of the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial at the Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy on the northern coast of France, as part of the events to mark the 80th anniversary commemorations of Allied amphibious landing in France in 1944, on June 6, 2024. JORDAN PETTITT / AFP
Hundreds of veterans
Aged between 96 and 104, coming from the US, UK or Canada, many WWII veterans had flown in to Normandy to attend the anniversary events. They were wrapped up well and celebrated as heroes.
Participants march during a ceremony at Utah Beach near Saint-Martin-de-Vareville Normandy, Thursday, June 6, 2024. JEREMIAS GONZALEZ/ APAmerican D-Day veterans gather for a ceremony on Omaha Beach, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 in Normandy. JEREMIAS GONZALEZ/ APAmerican WW II veteran Margie Stone attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Utah Beach, Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Utah Beach, Normandy. JEREMIAS GONZALEZ/ AP
Commemorations started earlier in the week, with a joint US and French amphibious landing operation showcase notably taking place on Tuesday.
French troops disembark from a US landing craft during a joint US and French amphibious landing operation showcase, on June 4, 2024, at Omaha beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. LOIC VENANCE / AFPA French Marine Commando paratrooper guides his red, white and blue parachute canopy past the church of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where a mannequin effigy of WWII veteran US Army 82nd Airborne paratrooper John Steele hangs from the steeple, in Sainte-Mere-Eglise northwestern France, on June 5, 2024. MIGUEL MEDINA / AFPA World War II reenactor walks near a sign on Utah Beach, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the 1944 D-Day landings in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy region, France, June 2, 2024. BENOIT TESSIER/ REUTERS
On Wednesday, Britain’s Princess Anne laid a wreath along with veterans at Bayeux cemetery.
Britain’s Princess Royal Anne carries a wreath as she attends a ceremony along with D-Day veterans to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, at Bayeux cemetery, in Bayeux, France, June 5, 2024. HANNAH MCKAY/ REUTERS