Biden salutes World War II veterans at D-Day 80-year anniversary
From CNN's Antoinette Radford in London
US President Joe Biden began his speech commemorating D-Day by saluting World War II veterans who served in the invasion of Europe 80 years ago.
Opening his address at the memorial, Biden turned to the veterans, who were seated on stage, and said it was “the highest honor to be able to salute you in Normandy once more. All of you. God love you.”
Multiple US veterans were awarded France's Legion of Honor by President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the ceremony.
Biden honors "band of brothers" who made it to Normandy
From CNN's Joshua Berlinger in Paris
US President Joe Biden honored by name several veterans who made the journey back to Normandy 80 years after the D-Day landings during his speech at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
"From the sea and sky, nearly 160,000 allied troops descended on Normandy. Many, to state the obvious, never came home," Biden said. "A few, a notable band of brothers, are here today."
They include:
- Kenneth Smith, who operated a rangefinder and radar, who helped the Americans who conducted the daring raid against a German position on Point du Hoc.
- Bob Gibson, who landed on Utah beach about 10 hours after the invasion began, with bullets still flying everywhere. Gibson drove a tractor with an anti-aircraft gun on top.
- Ben Miller, a medic who at 3 a.m. on June 6, 1944, flew over the channel in a glider that crash-landed. He survived and saved lives while the battle raged.
- Lewis Brown, who helped rush supplies to the front lines.
- Woody Woodhouse, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen
- Margery Stone, an aircraft mechanic.
Biden said the Americans who fought in Normandy became heroes "because they were given an audacious mission knowing -- every one of them knew -- the probability of dying was real. But they did it anyway.
"They knew, beyond any doubt, that there are things worth fighting and dying for. Freedom is worth it. Democracy is worth it. America is worth it. The world is worth it. Then, now and always," Biden said. "Here we proved that the ideals of our democracy are stronger than any army or combination of armies in the entire world."
In pictures: The 80 year D-Day anniversary commemorations
From CNN Staff
Leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Canada have gathered in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day celebrations.
US President Joe Biden began the day meeting veterans who served in the D-Day assault, before attending a ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Veterans from the US made the journey back to France to mark the occasion. Some were awarded France's Legion of Honor by Macron.
There was a fly over by the Red Arrows as ceremonies began.
Macron also met with veterans, including 98-year-old Alec Penstone, who made the trip to Normandy from the United Kingdom.
Dozens of veterans made lengthy journeys from around the world gathered to commemorate the sacrifices made in 1944.
Britain's Royal Family were in attendance, including King Charles and Queen Camilla who met with Macron and France's first lady Brigitte Macron.
US Defense secretary gives thanks to veterans in comments marking 80th anniversary of D-Day
From CNN's Shania Shelton
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin gave thanks to the veterans in comments marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
"On behalf ofthe United States Department ofDefense, I am here to givethanks, inadequate as that word may be.Eighty years later we thank theyoung Americans who took thebeaches who helped liberateFrance, and who helped free this continent from Nazi tyranny," he said.
Speaking to the veterans, he said, "Victors ofD-Day, we are humbled by yourpresence. The young Americanswho fought through the clamorand the chaos of D-Day havegrown old or left us. And whenever a veteran ofD-Day is gathered to his makerin the fullness of time, after a long life lived in freedom, hewins a final victory overHitler."
"Let us againthank the heroes of D-Daywho kept freedom alive for usall. You saved the world," Austin said.
Watch here:
Macron to American veterans: "You left everything and risked everything for our independence"
From CNN's Joshua Berlinger in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron opened his speech at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, by lauding the American soldiers who landed on the shores of Normandy 80 years ago.
"We are linked by the grandeur of a people ready to die on a land that is not their own, but a cause that is theirs," Macron said.
He continued:
"You left everything, crossed the ocean and landed on the coast of France eight decades ago ... you left everything and risked everything for our independence, for our freedom. That we will never forget."
Biden acknowledges "critical alliances" while attending D-Day commemorations in France
From CNN's Donald Judd
President JoeBiden reinforced the importance of the US’ alliances across the world, saying he was struck by the solemnity of the ceremonies honoring veterans who served on D-Day 80 years ago.
Biden told ABCNewsinaninterview from Normandy that the sacrifice of soldiers was “astounding.”
“Now imagine what they hadtocome through — I washere 30 years ago, cameinon a landing craft. You could see from out there what they sawhere. Theidea that they getoff those boats, they getoff those landing crafts, manyofthem died, sinking — you come across that beach, as long as it — it's just astounding. It's astounding,”hesaid.
“What itsaystomeis, how critical alliances are, how critical alliances areforour security,” Biden said.
The presidenthas soughttocontrast hisvisionofforeign policy with thatof former president Donald Trump, who has struck a moreisolationisttone, describing theNATOalliance as “obsolete,” and threateningto withdraw from thealliance.
D-Day reflects "very best of America's values," secretary says at 80-year anniversary
From CNN's Antoinette Radford in London
Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission Charles Djou said Americans fight not for conquest, but for “humble values” at the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France.
Djou said D-Day reflected “the very best of America’s values.”
“The values of freedom, liberty and democracy. And when the job is done, when the mission is accomplished, when the tyrant is taken down and democracy is stood up, America does something unique in the history of mankind. We go home."
Djou said the D-Day memorial reminded Americans of the cost of war, and the price of freedom that Americans paid 80 years ago. He added that Americans would fight for freedom again “if necessary” in pointed remarks aimed at Russia and China.
“We remind all authoritarian dictators today that if necessary, we will pay that price again to ensure the success of freedom” he said.
Watch here:
Biden and Macron arrive for start of US D-Day commemoration
From CNN's Antoinette Radford
Veterans are on their feet for the start of the US D-Day 80-year anniversary commemoration at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
US President Joe Biden arrived with first lady Dr. Jill Biden, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron.
Planes flew overhead as the ceremony began.
Gen. Charles Q. Brown on D-Day anniversary: "Our freedom is not free"
From CNN's Shania Shelton
Gen. Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said "our freedom is not free" when discussing the value of democracy and freedom.
"And democracy can stand onits own, but we've got tomake sure we're prepared. Andone of the things I've focusedon is ensuring that we havefighting skill todeter future conflict," Brown told CNN's Christiane Amanpour, speaking in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
When asked by Amanpour if people at home understand how difficult the situation we're living through right now is, Brown said, "I have a sense it's coming along."
"We got to continueto remind folks that when youlook at the situation thatwe're seeing that we justcan't watch. We got to, wegot tolead," he said.
