D-Day 75th anniversary marked by Trump and world leaders

[ucrdem]

Last edited Thu Jun 6, 2019, 07:23 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

Macron thanks Allied soldiers

Presidents Trump and Macron rose to deliver a round of applause to the veterans seated behind them at the service.

Emmanuel Macron then rose to deliver his speech. He said the troops who carried out the Normandy landings were faced, above all, with "the anxiety of the unknown."

"The happy days of their youth seemed far away," he added. "What strikes still, 75 years later, is the unheard-of courage ... that strength of the soul" that the troops showed, he said. "France does not forget."

Macron thanked soldiers of all the countries that took part in the Normandy landings. He listed each Allied nation involved, and praised them for liberating France from Nazi occupation. "I bow down to you today," he said.

Macron then switched to English for a part of his speech. "On behalf of my nation, I just want to say 'thank you,'" he said, receiving huge applause from the thousands present.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/d-day-trump-commemorations-gbr-intl/index.html

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p.s. from BBC: D-Day landings

156,000 allied troops landed in Normandy, across 5 beaches

7,000 ships and landing craft involved and 10,000 vehicles

4,400 from the combined allied forces died on the day

4,000 - 9,000 German casualties

Thousands of French civilians also died

[MFGsunny]

1. Macron :: an exemplar for today's 75th. Dumpster Donnie not so much.

While Macron showed reverent gratitude, the MORAN told couple stories and then went right into america-first type fascist lingo.

[ucrdem]

2. Yes the moment of silence is more in his line

Pics are breathtaking . . .


"A visitor takes a moment to reflect among the graves at the Normandy American Cemetery"

p.s. not Melania

[ucrdem]

3. "D-Day: France's famed Kieffer Commando unit"

A total of 177 French soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944 with a specific mission. The small but well-trained group would later come to be known as the Kieffer Commando unit (their official title being, ‘1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos’), after their leader, Captain Philippe Kieffer.

Kieffer, working with General Charles De Gaulle, wanted to create an elite unit like the ones he had seen in Britain. The French marines were sent to Scotland to train with British Special Forces, with some of the training exercises including live rounds. At the end of their training, the French soldiers were rewarded with the famed British green beret, which is reserved for this elite body of soldiers. When the Kieffer Commando’s arrived -- after previous missions -- in Normandy, they were given the honour of firing the first shots in accordance with military tradition.

French troops make rapid gains on returning to their country, ultimately capturing the city of Ouistreham and taking back control of Pegasus Bridge. They endured heavy casualties but their objective was clear: liberating France. A few weeks later, General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division disembarked in Normandy and pushed its way through to the capital on August 25, 1944.

https://www.france24.com/en/video/20190606-d-day-frances-famed-kieffer-commando-unit

[ucrdem]

4. BBC: 22,442 British troops died there in the summer of 1944.

D-Day: May and Macron in France to mark 75th anniversary
7 minutes ago

The only words we can say to veterans are "thank you", Theresa May has told a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.

Her words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who told D-Day veterans gathered in northern France that we owe them "our freedom".

The day of commemorative events began with a lone piper marking the moment the first UK soldiers went ashore.

Donald Trump later told US veterans they were "the pride of the nation".

The US president was at a service at the US war cemetery at Omaha Beach.

Hundreds of veterans are gathered in Normandy for the anniversary of the largest combined land, air and naval operation in history.

Mr Macron and Mrs May - in one of her final engagements as Conservative leader - were in Ver-sur-Mer to see the first stone laid for a memorial to commemorate the 22,442 British troops who died there in the summer of 1944.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48536906

[Timmygoat]

7. This sickened me

My husband had a long military career, he served in VietNam, was awarded a bronze star for valor, for saving many lives, and was in the region where his unit was a pretty much sprayed with Agent Orange, many of his team have died from cancer because of this.
My husband died a couple of years ago from his agent orange caused cancer, and until his death and even now was denied the compensation he was due.
But there is more, after his service he was offered and accepted a position with the American Monuments Commision in
Europe, he was a superintendent at several military cemeteries, Cambridge, Luxembourg, Brookwood etc and spent time at most of them, was presented with mementos of all of them when he retired.
Now I see a draft dodger reading his speech from his teleprompters as though he means the words he is saying, which of course he does not.
He says he was not a fan of the Viet Nam war - news flash the men who went to Viet Nam and fought and died did not go because they were fans. They went for duty to the country, something Trump would not understand.

[RicROC]

8. sickens me, too.

It feels like Trump tarnishes sacred ground and this sacred occasion. Also, feels like blasphemy whenever he utters the word 'God'.

[trusty elf]

15. ...

[no_hypocrisy]

6. I'm surprised that Trump didn't come out with a statement like

"That Hitler really put up a good fight . . . . . "

[SnowCritter]

12. Ain't that the truth!

It's terribly ironic that Trump (a fascist as far as I'm concerned) is there to try to honor men who fought and died in an effort to rid Europe of fascism.

[Maxheader]

9. I find it disturbing stumpy, the great hater of the military..and draft dodger...

Would be allowed involvement in this memorial and remembrance..

[Dennis Donovan]

10. Rec for everyone involved... except Donald Trump

[djacq]

11. Hardly mentioned; about 2000 African Americans also landed.

[link:https://learningenglish.voanews.com/amp/4945520.html|

[usaf-vet]

13. Hand salute to all who served in WW II

Especially to my Dad USN RM3.

Who's assignment was to intercept German U-Boat radio communications and pass their triangulate location on to armed PBY Catalina.

[link:https://warthunder.fandom.com/wiki/PBY-5_Catalina|

[Hugin]

16. That headline makes me gag.

Why even mention the Yellow Belly?

[murielm99]

17. The headline says it all.

Trump AND world leaders. He is an impostor, not a leader.

[Habibi]

18. I noticed that too!

Nice bit o' shade there, CNN.

[rockfordfile]

19. It's because of fascists like Trump and the GOP that D-Day happen.