D-Day Remembrance on 65th Anniversary: USA, UK, Canada, & France

by Pythiian1 | June 6, 2009 at 06:10 am

2632 views | 85 Recommendations | 35 comments

Saturday marks 65 years ago that the D-Day landings began on June 6, 1944, marking the final stage of the Allied campaign to defeat Nazi Germany.

US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and UK Prince of Wales joined France President Nicholas Sarkozy to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of D-Day.

73,000 Americans, 21,400 Canadians, 61,715 British troops landed on five beaches on the French coast alongside a number of Australians and Free French commandos, to begin the liberation of Europe.

The operation was the largest single-day amphibious invasion of all time, with 160,000 troops landing on June 6, 1944. There were also 195,700 allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships. The landings took place along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, includes the graves of 9,387 U.S. soldiers who died in connection with the invasion, according to the American Battle Monuments Commission.

The 172 acres contained the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. The site also contained graves of Air Force crews shot down over France since 1942.

The names of 1,557 Americans who lost their lives during the conflict, but whose remains could not be found and identified are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular garden at the east side of the Memorial.

The graves face west toward the United States of America.

This cemetery is managed by the American government, under Congressional acts that provide yearly financial support for maintaining them, with most military and civil personnel employed abroad. The U.S. flag flies over these granted soils.

The cemetery is located on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, one of the landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion, and the English Channel. It covers 70 ha (172 acres), and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. The graves face westward, toward the United States.

The names of 1,557 Americans who lost their lives in the conflict but could not be located and/or identified are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular garden at the east side of the memorial.

President Obama would be addressing an invited crowd of 9,000 including 2,000 Americans to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of D-Day and the United States role in ending the Nazi occupation of Europe. Other speakers would be U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

It is a tradition for American presidents to visit the landing beaches at Normandy where the June 6, 1944, invasion by U.S., British, Canadian and other troops began a rollback of the Nazi war machine entrenched in Western Europe and helped end World War Two the following year.

Ronald Reagan went to the D-Day beaches on the 40th anniversary in 1984, Bill Clinton was there in 1994 for the 50th and George W. Bush was there in 2002, and in 2004 for the 60th anniversary commemoration.

President Obama's great uncle, Charles Payne, age 84, is also in attendance on this 65th Anniversary. He was a private in the US Army's 89th Infantry Division during World War II. Mr. Charles Payne is the younger brother of the US President's grandmother, Madelyn Payne.

Obama's great-uncle, Charlie Payne, 84 and frail but among the liberators of the Buchenwald camp complex the president visited in central Germany, will join Obama's party in Normandy.

It is a powerful reminder to Americans, Canadians, and Europeans who read this article that our collective admiration for the WW II soldiers combined with immense gratitude do not diminish as time marches on.

Normandy American Cemetery Superintendent Daniel Neese said he has heard more than 100 D-Day veterans will attend this year’s anniversary.

Given the veterans’ ages and the associated physical hardships of traveling to France, this year’s event is "very important," Neese said.

"To me, it’s the last moment we may be able to pay honor to these gutsy, confident, courageous men — in person — who sacrificed and prevailed on the 6th of June 1944 and also during the Normandy campaign," he said.

On the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, British and American Air Force flew over Omaha Beach in the missing man formation to honor all WW II veterans at the closing of the ceremony.

During a 21-gun salute, smoke rose from a section of Omaha Beach once more on Saturday. The military men and women in the crowd, the young sailors in crisp black uniforms, and the aging veterans with their war medals, brought their hands to salute for the playing of “Taps” and a flyover of British, French and American fighter jets.

Source:

American Battle Monuments Commission

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ricknight

at 07:17 on June 6th, 2009

This is an event that must always be remembered, not only for the great sacrifice that was made, but also for the great gift of freedom that was given to us.

Pythiian1

at 07:37 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you so much, Ricknight, for your recommendation and reminder. I appreciate that you've also added the photos to this article in commemoration of D-Day.

amyjudd

at 07:20 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you for this piece - it is truly a time in history that we should never forget and these brave people deserve every remembrance we can give them, especially as there are fewer and fewer veterans left now to help us remember.

Pythiian1

at 09:05 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you so much, Amy, for your recommendation and sharing your thoughts on this day, June 6, 2009. To me, it is always important to remember and to honor those who have sacrificed themselves and those WW II veterans who are still, thankfully, alive across the allied nations.

Barbara McPherson

at 08:18 on June 6th, 2009

Sometimes we forget the sacrifices made by our people to ensure that we can have a safe life. The Canadian population in 1939 was about 12 million and one million people went overseas to fight the Nazis. Democracy is a beautiful but fragile thing. Always exercise your right to vote in elections.

Pythiian1

at 08:23 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you so much, Barbara McPherson, for your recommendation and sharing your thoughts in honor of D-Day's 65th Anniversary.

Dennis Aistrop (not verified)

at 11:41 on June 6th, 2009

Went with one of my daughters a couple of years ago to visit the American cemetery above Omaha beach. So glad that I made that trip, such a beautiful, incredibly moving place.Just to wander around, and to sit a while, in quiet thought,and to honour those young men who gave their lives for all of us. It is a resting place fit for heroes. I hope they are never forgotten.

amyjudd

at 12:33 on June 6th, 2009

Thanks for your personal perspective.

Pythiian1

at 12:46 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you so much, Mr. Aistrop for sharing your experience.

amyjudd

at 12:59 on June 6th, 2009

10 Downing Street has their official D-Day photos up on Flickr now.

Pythiian1

at 13:19 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you, Amy, for sharing that information.

dssa

at 13:21 on June 6th, 2009

dssa has contributed a photo to this story.

Pythiian1

at 13:36 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you, dssa, for the photos.

WWII Museum (not verified)

at 14:15 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you so much for publsihing photos from The National World War II Museum's D-Day commemoration. Today was an amazing day for the Museum (based in New Orleans), we had nearly 300 veterans from all over the country come and be recognized for their service as well as around 3,000 visitors. We'll be back at it again tomorrow for D-Day+1 (although today will be hard to top!)

Pythiian1

at 14:23 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you so much WWII Museum for sharing the D-Day Commemoration in New Orleans and your photos.

goldenanchor

at 14:57 on June 6th, 2009

Photos were taken at the 2nd Annual D-Day Living History Event sponsored by the Idaho Military History Society. The society is associated with the Idaho Military History Museum which is located near the Gowen Field Military Base in Boise Idaho. Th event was well conducted and well attended on a rainy day in Boise.

goldenanchor has contributed a photo to this story.

Pythiian1

at 15:07 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you, Goldenanchor, for sharing your D-Day commemoration on the 65th Anniversary to honor WWII veterans from allied nations.

amyjudd

at 15:15 on June 6th, 2009

I enlarged the photo widget so that we can see these amazing photos better.

Pythiian1

at 18:51 on June 6th, 2009

Thank you, Amy for that as I'm sure readers would also appreciate seeing the photos in larger form.

Paschen

at 04:39 on June 7th, 2009

I do not disagree with the fact that D-Day should be remembered, however, if remembered, then it should be done accurately and acknowledge the Soviet contribution.

With out the eastern front the fierce war that was conducted between the Germans and the Soviets, D-Day would never have succeeded nor would it have happened either.

The Soviet and the German lost most of their Soldiers on the eastern front, it was a massacre, the total Soviet loses where 23,100,000 and total German loses where 7,233,000 Human lives plus Austria with 105,500 Lives since back then the two where one.

Where as the US total loses where 418,800 lives. The Soviet did more the 80% of all the work in WWII and with out the Soviets the Western Allies would not have been able to win this war and the NAZI may very well have remain in power until today.

Pythiian1

at 16:46 on June 7th, 2009

Thank you, Paschen, for your recommendation.

This piece is about D-Day Remembrance on its 65th Anniversary ceremony with the emphasis on the allied nations at the time.

There will always be some who would feel out-of-sort given the nations involved in the ceremony; and there are people who would dispute historical evidence and facts based on whatever personal beliefs and values.

You will recall that Vladimir Putin attended D-Day Remembrance in 2004, further reading is here.

The USSR (name at the time) entered the war when when Germany launched the Siege of Leningrad in 1941 that didn't end until 1944. On 10/1941 the US began to supply the USSR (name at the time) under the Lend-Lease Act to battle German invasion.

The Teheran Conference in late 1943 was when Stalin met with Roosevelt and Churchill for the first time. It was a relationship of convenience among the big three at the time as they had a common enemy, Nazi Germany or rather the Greater Germany, which included Austria.

In other words, USSR was involved because of Nazi Germany/Third Reich invaded it in addition to Nazi Germany's extraterritorial invasions.

It appears that you have also begrudged the D-Day Remembrance for not including Germany and Austria in the memorial honoring services of Canadian, British, American, and French soldiers and veterans who went to war solely, due to Nazi Germany the Third Reich's extraterritorial invasions and decimation of the Jewish people. Austria was merged into the greater Germany by Nazi Germany in 1938.

"....the German lost most of their Soldiers on the eastern front, it was a massacre, the total Soviet loses where 23,100,000 and total German loses where 7,233,000 Human lives plus Austria with 105,500 Lives since back then the two where one."

Based on your lamentation about Germany and Austria, it appears that you are trying to assert some sort of moral equivalency of the Greater Germany's loss of lives with the allied nations' losses and the Nazi Germany's systematic killing of 6 million Jews, i.e. the Holocaust.

I'd suggest the BBC online has an excellent compilation of WWII history.

Paschen

at 01:41 on June 8th, 2009

No, I am not trying to assert any German loses. I am trying to show that with out the immense sacrifices the Soviet Union made in lives this war would never have been won.

The US like to portray them self as the saviour of the day, leaving shadowing the real history behind it. The Eastern front was what won the war the rest was a cake walk in comparison.

Putin did attend the ceremony once and was rather disillusioned with it. The Soviet Unions effort deserves our out most respect and gratitude. Some thing the West still needs to acknowledge and rectify.

You are confusing the issue here, maybe due to blind patriotism. I am talking about the USSR war effort to bring down the NAZI and how little this has been acknowledge especially by the US and the UK. Their scarifies saved the day and avoid million of dead soldiers on the Western front.

The US planed to use the Atom Bomb on Germany, because they could not get ahead, however, it was not quiet ready yet. What saved Germany from being bombed by the US Atom Bomb was the fact that the USSR won the war prior to this Bomb being completed. Japan was not so lucky even though it did indicated to surrender it still got Bomb with two Atom bombs.

The US proved their ability in Vietnam where they where left on their own. Bombing the hell out of civilian and still losing the war. Same in Germany and Japan, the US carpet bombed the countries destroying it to 80% and yet could not make a advance.

It was the USSR that won this war under a heavy price. This is what I am talking about and that even the US need to acknowledge along the scarifies of its own people, that would have had to scarifies a lot more, had it not been for the USSR; the US liked to demonize the USSR and still does demonize it even though by now it is Russia.

Pythiian1

at 16:08 on June 8th, 2009

Paschen,

Before I defend myself from your latest personalized attack, I'd like to point out one obvious fact, I don't create the news event nor do I manage and edit the entire American history.

If you had read my comment carefully, you would have noticed that a) the piece was about D-Day Remembrance 65th Anniversary b) it included background of those nations that were present on that day and c) it was the news, not an Opinion piece.

My original response to your first comment was to address your points that appeared to be challenging the legitimacy of the 4 nations involved on D-Day, followed by your specific comment about how much Russia had contributed and the extent of Nazi German and Austrian deaths, by enumerating the numbers.

What was the point of comparison if that enumeration wasn't your intention to make sure that people know the Greater Germany/Third Reich's losses? That is fine, then you need to write a piece about it. My piece is about the 65th Anniversary and some quick snapshots of the event that took place at Normandy.

1) I had addressed your critique about the lack of Russian presence, by mentioning that Vladimir Putin did attend the 2004 D-Day along with additional information relevant to the role of Russia. I am not responsible for the lack of Russian participation on the 65th Anniversary.

Evidently, my response did not satisfy you because you must have wanted it in the story of 6/6/2009, hence you resorted to attacking the United States, which is fine, and then me, the author by labeling me as "maybe blind ...", which is not fine.

I wish you would write your own version of D-Day Remembrance instead, but it appears that critiquing and attacking me comes a bit easier because I happen to be the most convenient American for you.

"The US like to portray them self as the saviour of the day, leaving shadowing the real history behind it. The Eastern front was what won the war the rest was a cake walk in comparison. .....You are confusing the issue here, maybe due to blind patriotism. "

It has been more than several times that you have referred to my line of discussion or pieces or statement as "blind" something or other in previous pieces and the latest, "patriotism". This is the first time that I will address this personalized attack: It is one thing to discuss differences in viewpoints, opinions, and perspectives, but is it really necessary for you to gratuitously attack me and to demonize me just so you can make your points? Or that you think by demeaning me will somehow validate your points more effectively? I believe this type of personalized attack is frowned upon by NP.

I'm sure you would no more like it, if someone continually casts aspersions on your nationality, country, and your mind just so s/he can make the point more effective. It is toxic to any potentially meaningful discussion.

I'd like to address your direct attack at me about the "blind patriotism", for your information there are countless people here who would dispute with you in a heartbeat and label me the opposite of patriotism along with their choices of bad names.

2) I responded to your comments specifically about the German and Austrian losses because your comment implied that somehow the author had deliberately left them out just to annoy you specifically.

As I've already mentioned ad nauseum above, it was the news and the story included the roles of the four nations involved on that day, D-Day Remembrance.

I am sorry that you don't seem to approve of how the four nations conduct themselves on D-Day.

I am more than mindful that you are consistently anti-American as evident in most of your comments here and elsewhere, which is fine, however, it is harmful and hurtful when you choose to direct your anti-Americanism and expressed anger at me.

That is not how discussion starts, at least not by my standard, it just becomes a platform for you to lecture to me and anyone who reads the post about how incredibly stupid, arrogant, wrongful the United States is, and the final target is to call me "blind" because ... what, I'm an American, and I happen to post a story about D-Day on 6/6/09, or previously, about the US President or events that occurred in America. As I've repeatedly mentioned and shown that people can hate America all they want, but just don't personalize your hatred of America and Americans at me.

It is harmful and hurtful, not to mention creating an unnecessary toxic environment, which is unhelpful to any dialogue, when one person attacks another by calling that person blind, implicitly, meaning what?

Paschen

at 18:35 on June 8th, 2009

It was not personal Pythiian 1, it was about the news, you choose to take it personal.

You reaction is Patriotic not a base for debate nor dialogue of diverting opinion.

I do not hate the American nor wish them any harm, However, I do express my opinion and I am willing to debate it and even to be proven wrong.

I am not a Nationalist though, nor a patriot and I do speak in the same manner when facts in my view are not correct about any one and any think.

I am a cosmopolite. However what you are doing right now, is attacking rather then debating. Should I deduct from that that you hate when people can not agree with what you post or see it critically and may have an opinion that differs from your own?

Be well.

Pythiian1

at 19:02 on June 8th, 2009

My response to your second posting, please read carefully, it is a defense of your statement:

"...You are confusing the issue here, maybe due to blind patriotism."

My opening remarks:

Before I defend myself from your latest personalized attack, I'd like to point out one obvious fact, I don't create the news event nor do I manage and edit the entire American history.

If you had read my comment carefully, you would have noticed that a) the piece was about D-Day Remembrance 65th Anniversary b) it included background of those nations that were present on that day and c) it was the news, not an Opinion piece.

It appears that you like to attribute others the opinions that you think they should have just because you say so, "you hate when people can not agree with what you post or see it critically and may have an opinion that differs from your own?"

You may not speak for me, thank you. For the record, the word hate is a bit overly dramatic.

Nevertheless, I'd like to point out once again that I've mentioned the very point in my previous response:

"This is the first time that I will address this personalized attack:

It is one thing to discuss differences in viewpoints, opinions, and perspectives, but is it really necessary for you to gratuitously attack me and to demonize me just so you can make your points? Or that you think by demeaning me will somehow validate your points more effectively? I believe this type of personalized attack is frowned upon by NP."

Well, let me re-explain this point, there are plenty of people who do not agree with me here and they have, countless times, including you have dropped by to pop off their comments and leave.

I've hardly ever debated them unless some choose to attack me personally, then I defend myself. That is the sequence of the event.

Thanks.

Paschen

at 19:39 on June 8th, 2009

You do take paraphrase out of context now, at least keep it in context.

Be well.

B. Zelley

at 17:31 on June 15th, 2009

The war was lost by Germany when they failed to win the Battle of Britain -

Thanks to the British, Commonwealth Air Forces and American & Polish

volunteers. Some gave all, but won the day.

Concerning the Russian involvement, nobody can deny their involvement, but

wasn't it Russia that joined with the Germans to slice & dice Poland. And, it wasn't the

Germans that slaughtered much of Poland's military in the woods.

Paschen

at 06:20 on June 16th, 2009

Very true B. Z. shows you that your closed ally can be your worth enemy as well.

Still the German and Japanese war criminals have put before an international court and triad as well as convicted.

Wish can not be said for the Allied war criminals. For instance in Vietnam The My Lai Massacre by the US units Charlie and Tango.

"The records that have been recently made available to the public describe recurrent attacks on ordinary Vietnamese — families in their homes, farmers in rice paddies, teenagers out fishing. Hundreds of soldiers, in interviews with investigators and letters to commanders, described a violent minority who murdered, raped and tortured with impunity."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_massacre

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-vietnam6aug06,0,6350517.story

No one of those guilty of War crimes has been put before an International court.

Same for WWII. German and Japanese war criminals have been triad and this rightfully as well, however none of the Allied has ever been triad for crimes of war even though the reports clearly show that those crimes of war and crimes against Humanity have been committed in much larger numbers then expected until the reports where recently made public. Two wrong do not make it right. We need justice for all or this will never stop.