PORTSMOUTH, England – On the final leg of his three-day state visit to Britain, President Donald Trump joined Queen Elizabeth II and leaders from around…
PORTSMOUTH, England – On the final leg of his three-day state visit to Britain, President Donald Trump joined Queen Elizabeth II and leaders from around the world in paying respects to Allied service members who 75 years ago took part in the D-Day landings that helped liberate Europe from Nazi Germany’s military occupation.
The Normandy landings on June 6,1944, were the largest land, air and sea invasion in history and Portsmouth Naval Base, near where the commemorations are taking place Wednesday, served as a key launch pad for those forces.
In addition to Trump, Prime Minister Theresa May hosted 14 other leaders in Portsmouth, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Angela Merkel and Canada’s Justin Trudeau. Prince Charles attended with representatives from every country that participated in the storming of the beaches along France’s northwestern coast in a surprise attack involving 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes and 150,000 soldiers. More than 4,000 Allied service members – more than half of them American – died in the assault credited with changing the course of the war.
World War II D-Day: 5 to know on the 75th anniversary of Normandy landings
«At this time of reflection for veterans of the conflict and their families, I am sure that these commemorations will provide an opportunity to honor those who made extraordinary sacrifices to secure freedom in Europe.
