D-Day 76
It's D-Day. Today marks the 76th anniversary of the D-Day landings - the largest seaborne invasion in history. Six thousand vessels carried over 130,000 troops to the Normandy beaches, and two thousand planes and gliders delivered a further 23,000 airborne troops behind enemy lines. By the end of the day over 150,000 allied servicemen had set up their lines in Nazi-occupied France. D-Day - the first battle of the liberation of Western Europe - was the beginning of the end of World War 2. June 6th is a day of commemoration, to remember and honor the lives lost - both military and civilian - on that fateful day. It is also a day of celebration for the people of the villages and towns that were liberated seventy-six years ago today - towns like Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Vierville-sur-Mer and Bénouville. So today, we'll witness solemn remembrance as well as joyful celebration - ceremonies as well as dances. And a fly-past from the French Air-force will paint the Normandy sky blue, white and red.
We'll be broadcasting on Facebook Live on Saturday and we hope you'll join us. Here's a link to the event. We'll be taking in Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Sainte-Mère-Eglise and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer.
Here's the program...
2.00pm Omaha Beach
2.25pm Alpha Jet flypast
2.30pm Ceremony, Vierville-sur-Mer
3.00pm US Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer
4.00pm Pointe du Hoc
5.00pm Sainte-Mère-Église
5.45pm Utah Beach
Tune in to the We Love Normandy facebook page and on our Instagram on Saturday, June 6th from 2pm to 6pm Paris Time. It's free and open to all.
See you there!
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