WASHINGTON: The White House has marked the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, paying tribute to the Allied forces who landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944, in one of the most important military operations of the Second World War.
The presidential message was issued as part of the America 250 commemorations, as the United States prepares to mark 250 years of independence. It honoured the American, British, Canadian and other Allied troops who took part in the Normandy landings.
D-Day marked the beginning of the Allied campaign to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation. More than 150,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy on the first day of the operation, supported by naval, air and airborne forces.
American forces landed at Omaha and Utah beaches, while British and Canadian troops were assigned to other sectors along the Normandy coast. The operation required months of planning and involved one of the largest coordinated military efforts of the war.
The White House also recalled the role of United States Army Rangers at Pointe du Hoc, where they scaled steep cliffs to attack German positions overlooking the invasion area.
The cost of the operation was heavy. More than 10,000 Allied troops were killed, wounded or reported missing on June 6, including thousands of American servicemen.
In its message, the White House said the anniversary was a moment to remember the courage and sacrifice of what is often called America's Greatest Generation.
The Normandy landings opened a western front in Europe and helped accelerate the defeat of Nazi Germany, which surrendered in May 1945.
The anniversary also carries wider meaning for the United States and its wartime allies. The cooperation between American, British, Canadian and French forces during the war helped shape post-war security ties that continue to influence transatlantic relations today.
As America marks its 250th year, the White House said the D-Day anniversary should serve as a reminder of the responsibility to preserve the freedoms secured by those who fought in Normandy.
Source: White House presidential message on the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.
