French troops disembark from a US landing craft during a joint US and French amphibious landing operation showcase, on June 4, 2024, at Omaha beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, northwestern France, ahead of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images
Eighty years ago, the Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, during World War II on what would be known as D-Day. The surprise invasion ultimately led to the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe and the end of the war itself just over a year later.
Heads of state from around the world have traveled to France over the past few days to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the landing.
U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s King Charles III attended a U.S. ceremony at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on Thursday, along with other notable figures such as “Saving Private Ryan” star Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg. The ceremony featured speeches, a 21-gun salute, flyovers and the playing of military bugle call taps.
Around 150 American veterans who took part in the landings were also expected to attend the ceremony. One American veteran, Robert “Al” Persichitti from New York, died while on his way to the memorial service. He was 102.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prince William also attended a separate Canadian commemorative ceremony near the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer, in northwestern France.
Here are some scenes from the commemorations.
Normandy, France
Douglas C-47 aircraft fly over as US President Joe Biden (2nd R), U.S. First Lady Jill Biden (R), France’s President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) and his wife, Brigitte Macron (L), walk past flag-bearers during the U.S. ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
Utah Beach, France
Enthusiasts dressed in replica U.S. Army WWII-era military attire parade along Utah Beach on June 6 as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.
Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images
Arromanches-les-Bains, France
A dog wearing a small replica military helmet stands atop a Willys Jeep on the beach at Arromanches-les-Bains in northwestern France on June 5 as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.
Miguel Medina | Afp | Getty Images
Portsmouth, England
A D-Day veteran stands to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force aerobatics team “The Red Arrows” as they pass over a D-Day 80th anniversary concert on June 5 in Portsmouth, England.
Leon Neal | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Portland, England
A man in American World War Two uniform stands in front of a board at the D-Day Centre & WW2 Museum, which displays names of the soldiers that left in the first wave from Portland, on June 6 in Portland, England.
Finnbarr Webster | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet American World War II veterans before a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the Normandy American Cemetery on June 6 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
Win Mcnamee | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Courseulles-sur-Mer, France
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with WWII veterans during the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Juno Beach Centre near the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer, in northwestern France, on June 6.
Lou Benoist | Afp | Getty Images
Bayeux, France
A British officer looks at illuminated graves at the Bayeux War Cemetery, in Bayeux, Northwestern France on June 5, 2024, as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.
Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images
Southsea Common, England
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) talks with D-Day and WWII Normandy veterans following the UK’s national commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary commemorations of Allied amphibious landing (D-Day Landings) in France in 1944, in Southsea Common, southern England, on June 5.
Leon Neal | Afp | Getty Images
Portsmouth, England
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a UK national commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary commemorations of Allied amphibious landing (D-Day Landings) in France in 1944, in Southsea Common, in Portsmouth, southern England, on June 5.
Andrew Matthews | Afp | Getty Images
Ver-Sur-Mer, France
King Charles III lays a wreath during the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6 in Ver-Sur-Mer, France. Normandy is hosting various events across significant sites such as Pegasus Bridge, Sainte-Mère-Église, and Pointe du Hoc, to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944.
Chris Jackson | Chris Jackson Collection | Getty Images
Utah Beach, France
Enthusiasts dressed in replica U.S. Army WWII-era military attire parade along Utah Beach on June 6, 2024 as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.
Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images
Courseulles-sur-Mer, France
Prince William, Prince of Wales, greets the veterans at the Government of Canada ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, at Juno Beach on June 6, 2024 in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France.
Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Normandy, France
U.S. President Joe Biden (C), U.S. First Lady Jill Biden (R), France’s President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) and Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron (L), attend the U.S. ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
Cricqueville-en-Bessin, France
Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft fly over flags during a ceremony on “Pointe du Hoc” clifftop in Cricqueville-en-Bessin, northwestern France, on June 5, as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.
Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images
Arromanches-les-Bains France
Onlookers gather by DUKW amphibious trucks on the beach in Arromanches-les-Bains, northwestern France, on June 5, 2024, as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. First Lady Jill Biden walk amid the graves at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial after the U.S. ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6. The D-Day ceremonies on June 6 this year mark the 80th anniversary since the launch of ‘Operation Overlord’, a vast military operation by Allied forces in Normandy, which turned the tide of World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war against Nazi Germany.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
An 80th D-Day anniversary presidential challenge coin, which the U.S. issued to U.S. WWII veterans, is displayed during the US ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Actor Tom Hanks (L) and director Steven Spielberg (R) attend the U.S. ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
Utah Beach, France
Enthusiasts dressed in replica U.S. Army WWII-era military attire gather in Utah Beach on June 6, 2024, during the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.
Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images