Every year in Normandy, since 1945, the Allied landings of 6th June 1944 have been commemorated by D-Day Commemoration Committee.
77th Anniversary ceremonies were held again this year in the Omaha Beach sector in order to allow 250 children in this area to complete a remembrance project, related to Peace and Freedom, which had to be delayed in March 2020 because of the general lockdown applied in France.
Following an ecumenical prayer service held at the American Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, the official international ceremony took place by the National Guard Monument, overlooking Omaha Beach, in Vierville-sur-Mer.
This year again, the D-Day Commemoration Committee was unable to hold the commemorative ceremony in its usual manner, with no public permitted to attend.
However, the first ceremony was held in the presence of the US veteran Charles Norman Shay along with French and US military delegations.
The official ceremony was presided over by Mr Philippe Court, Prefect of Calvados and attended by foreign delegations from 10 countries, and French civil and military authorities.
Both Jean Quétier, Vice-President of the D-Day Commemoration Committee and M. Court, prefect of the area, gave a speech but none were made by the invited delegations.
The remembrance of all those who fought for our freedom and democracy was honored with dignity and deep respect.