World War II veterans honored a day before D-Day anniversary
By SYLVIE CORBET and JEFF SCHAEFFER, Associated Press - 1h ago
© Provided by Associated Press
RANVILLE, France (AP) — More than 20 British World War II veterans gathered on Sunday near Pegasus Bridge, one of the first sites liberated by Allied forces from Nazi Germany's control, as part of commemorations honoring the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the United States, Canada and other nations who landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Many felt the celebrations paying tribute to those who brought peace and freedom on the continent, take a special meaning this year — as war is raging again in Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
This year's D-Day anniversary also comes after two successive years of the COVID-19 pandemic restricted or deterred visitors from coming.
Peter Smoothy, 97, served in the British Royal Navy and landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.
“The first thing I remember are the poor lads who didn’t come back ... It’s a long time ago now, nearly 80 years ... And here we are still living,” he told The Associated Press.
“We’re thinking about all these poor lads who didn’t get off the beach that day, their last day, but they’re always in our minds.”
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