All posts tagged: 80th

Biden marks 80th anniversary of Normandy D-Day invasion

Biden marks 80th anniversary of Normandy D-Day invasion

Published by Sam

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France — President Biden joined world leaders in Normandy on Thursday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a somber setting where he drew a link between the historic fight to defeat the Nazis and the modern-day battles against authoritarianism and isolationism. “In their generation, in their hour of trial, the Allied forces of D-Day did their duty,” Biden said, standing before dozens of World War II veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery. “Now the question for us is, in our hour of trial, will we do ours?” While Biden’s speech was directed at a global audience — including the more than two dozen heads of state and government who were attending ceremonies in Normandy — it came against the backdrop of a fierce domestic political battle between the president and his predecessor, Donald Trump, who spoke at the D-Day commemorations five years ago. During his address on the 75th anniversary, Trump hailed the veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944 but did not offer similar praise for the global alliances that …

Photos: The last veterans mark D-Day’s 80th anniversary

Photos: The last veterans mark D-Day’s 80th anniversary

Published by Sam

UTAH BEACH, France — These are no ordinary beaches. There are few sunbathers. There are no volleyball games or barbecues. Eighty years after a massive invasion force landed here, beginning the liberation of German-occupied France, an unmistakable solemnity lingers on the sands. More than 4,000 Allied troops died on D-Day. But even amid the tremendous loss of life, some survived. And on this 80th anniversary, some of those who are still living came here to remember. Steve Melnikoff, a 104-year-old from Cockeysville, Md., is one of those last veterans. “I’m a D-Day man,” he proclaimed with pride, sporting a blue-and-gray necktie, a nod to the yin-yang insignia of the 29th Infantry Division he fought with. GET CAUGHT UP Summarized stories to quickly stay informed Melnikoff was a 24-year-old private on a ship in the English Channel on D-Day, coming ashore the next day. He would go on to earn four Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts during the war. He emphasized, though, that it was the soldiers interred at the American Cemetery who deserved tribute. …

D-day landings 80th anniversary: share your stories | D-day

D-day landings 80th anniversary: share your stories | D-day

Published by skeptic

Thursday 6 June will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings when allied troops arrived on the coast of Normandy, which led to the liberation of Europe and the end of the second world war. We would like to hear your or your family members’ stories of the D-day landings. Perhaps you know someone who took part or you remember hearing about it when you were a child. We’d like to hear your stories. We’re also interested in hearing how you might be commemorating the anniversary this year. Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for the purpose of the feature and we will delete any personal data when we no longer require it for this purpose. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service instead. Tell us about your D-day story here If you will be celebrating the 80th anniversary this year, please tell us more about your plans …

D-Day veteran spreads message of peace ahead of 80th anniversary

D-Day veteran spreads message of peace ahead of 80th anniversary

Published by skeptic

On D-Day, Charles Shay was a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic who was ready to give his life — and save as many as he could. Now 99, he’s spreading a message of peace with tireless dedication as he’s about to take part in the 80th anniversary commemorations of the landings in Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe from Nazi Germany occupation. “I guess I was prepared to give my life if I had to. Fortunately, I did not have to,” Shay said in an interview with The Associated Press. A Penobscot tribe citizen from Indian Island in the U.S. state of Maine, Shay has been living in France since 2018, not far from the shores of Normandy where many world leaders are expected to come next month. Solemn ceremonies will be honoring the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the U.S., Canada and other nations who landed on June 6, 1944. Nothing could have prepared Shay for what happened that morning on Omaha Beach: bleeding soldiers, body parts and corpses strewn around …

Vladimir Putin not welcome at French ceremony for 80th anniversary of D-day | Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin not welcome at French ceremony for 80th anniversary of D-day | Vladimir Putin

Published by skeptic

Russia will be invited to send representatives to an international ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-day – but not Vladimir Putin, the French organisers have announced. The Élysée is reported to have accepted that the country should be represented but said its leader is not welcome because of Moscow’s ongoing war on Ukraine. “In view of the circumstances, President Putin will not be invited to take part in the commemorations of the Normandy landings,” the Liberation Mission organising committee said. “Russia will, however, be invited to be represented so that the importance of the commitment and sacrifices of the Soviet peoples, as well as its contribution to the victory of 1945, can be honoured.” It added: “Unlike the Kremlin regime, France does not pursue a policy of historical revisionism.” No other information was given and the Russian embassy in Paris and the Kremlin did not react to the statement or indicate whether the invitation would be accepted. The Soviet Union lost more than 27 million people during the war – with 8.7 million military …

Ashlee Simpson’s son Bronx, 15, towers over her in glitzy photos from mother-in-law Diana Ross’ 80th birthday bash

Ashlee Simpson’s son Bronx, 15, towers over her in glitzy photos from mother-in-law Diana Ross’ 80th birthday bash

Published by Sam

It was a weekend full of celebrations for Ashlee Simpson Ross and her extended family, as they came together to honor the one and only Diana Ross. As the legendary “I’m Coming Out” singer marked her 80th trip around the sun, her family fêted her with an epic all out bash, and her daughter-in-law shared a round of photos from the glitzy event. Plus, among the sweet pics was one featuring the “Pieces of Me” singer’s son Bronx, 15, who looks so grown up and tall next to his mom. THROWBACK: Ashlee Simpson makes Broadway debut Over the weekend, Ashlee, 39, took to Instagram to share a recap of the special family celebrations, starting off with a photo posing with her hubby Evan Ross.  The party appears to have had an all-white theme, and Evan wore a fashion-forward white suit with a cropped jacket while Ashlee dazzled in a beaded and sequined gown with a feather trim at the hem and sleeves. The following snap captures Bronx towering over his mom, looking dapper as ever …

D-Day fallen remembered with 1,475 silhouette statues for 80th anniversary | UK News

D-Day fallen remembered with 1,475 silhouette statues for 80th anniversary | UK News

Published by Sam

British servicemen who were killed on D-Day will be remembered through a series of handmade silhouette statues. Artist Dan Barton has led a team of volunteers on the For Your Tomorrow project, which features 1,475 silhouettes. Each statue represents a serviceman who died under British command on 6 June 1944. They will be taken to Normandy next month and remain on display until the end of August. Image: Dan Barton says it’s likely to be many veterans’ last major anniversary Mr Barton says he is funding the installation on a “shoestring budget” and that it’s likely to be the last major anniversary the veterans will be around to see. “Most of the survivors are 98, 100-odd you know, so sadly that is an end of an era for me. So I think it’s hugely important.” The D-Day landings saw the Allied forces mount a huge invasion of Nazi-occupied France that ultimately tipped the course of the Second World War in their favour. Image: Paul Harris says his farm worker grandfather ‘joined up to do his …