Veterans and world leaders gathered in Normandy, France, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, the invasion that changed the course of World War II.
President Biden will be among the leaders commemorating the largest amphibious invasion in history, when more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on June 6, 1944. They will pay tribute to the thousands of soldiers who died in the attack and the veterans who survived, many of them over 100 years old.
The anniversary comes against the backdrop of Ukraine’s war against Russian aggression, and Biden and his allies are expected to reaffirm their cooperation and continued support for Ukraine.
Here are five things you need to know about the D-Day anniversary.
Events in Normandy
The week began with a massive parachute drop and fireworks display on the beaches of Normandy.
The official celebration will be held on Thursday.
The veterans are also scheduled to take part in other events later this week, including a parade and meetings with world leaders, including President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
According to the Pentagon, there will be more than 100 events for veterans related to the Normandy landings, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is scheduled to speak as part of the celebrations.
Probably the last significant Normandy landings anniversary for World War II veterans
For many World War II veterans, many of whom are over 100 years old, the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings may be the last major anniversary they commemorate their time in the war.
“You have to be close to 100 years old to take part in the Normandy landings,” says Alan Allport, a historian and professor at Syracuse University. “Thankfully, there are still a few veterans who were able to make the trip, but there are far fewer who made it to the 75th anniversary. Few will live to see the 90th anniversary, let alone the 100th.”
That means the world as a whole has reached a point “where there’s a sort of twilight of lived experience, and from this point on, D-Day will just be a historical event that nobody attending the commemorations will personally remember,” Allport told The Hill.
It is unclear how many veterans remain, but about 150 Americans who served in the Normandy landings, including 24 Normandy landing veterans, are scheduled to travel to France this year. NBC News reported..
Forty-eight of the US veterans arrived in Normandy on Monday and were greeted by French First Lady Brigitte Macron and French schoolchildren holding signs that read “To our eternal heroes: thank you,” The Associated Press reported. report.
The veterans flew on a special flight from Atlanta organized by the Best Defense Foundation, and upon their arrival, French schoolchildren sang the American and French national anthems.
Biden to speak at Normandy
Biden is due to speak from Normandy on Thursday, focusing on democracy and freedom and seeking to draw a contrast between his values and global leadership with former President Trump.
According to the White House, the president is expected to stress the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine as it fights Russian aggression, as well as the importance of global alliances, and criticize President Trump’s isolationism and America First international policies.
“[He] “Against the backdrop of today’s war in Europe, we speak of the sacrifices made by our heroes and veterans 80 years ago and our obligation to continue their mission of fighting for our freedom,” said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Biden will on Friday visit Point du Hoc, the 100-foot cliff where Army Rangers scaled the cliff under fire, to speak “about the peril of that moment, the existential struggle between tyranny and freedom.” “I’ll talk about the men who scaled that cliff and how they put country before themselves,” Sullivan said.
“I also talk about the dangers of isolationism,” Sullivan added, saying the U.S. and the world will pay the price if they don’t stand up to dictators.
Members of Parliament who attended
On Wednesday, dozens of lawmakers left Washington for Europe for the 80th anniversary commemorations, including a delegation of 18 senators including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (R-Iowa) and Joe Manchin (R-Virginia).
The delegation will join U.S. and French leaders and veterans at a ceremony at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, before meeting and paying their respects to World War II veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Later that day, members of the delegation will join other heads of state representing the Allied powers at an international ceremony at Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.
While in France, the delegation is also scheduled to meet with U.S. diplomatic and military leaders in Europe.
On the House side, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who was unable to attend, organized a trip to France for about 50 members of both parties, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
As part of the commemoration, several members of Congress who are military veterans plan to jump out of a plane to honor Normandy landings veterans. The list includes Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Michael Walz (R-Fla.).
World leaders gather in Normandy
The White House has stressed that Biden’s visit is also aimed at strengthening global alliances, and he will be accompanied by a range of other leaders in Normandy.
Biden is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Normandy on Thursday to discuss U.S. assistance for Ukraine, and is also due to make an official visit to French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris later this week.
Other leaders visiting Normandy to mark the anniversary include British Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Prince William, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The UK and Canada will hold their own ceremonies and events featuring veterans to commemorate their troops, respectively, before all leaders of both countries take part in official celebrations.
Mike Lillis contributed to this report.
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