Leaders honour D-Day veterans

2004-06-06 18:33

Arromanches - In an emotional ceremony on a cliff-top overlooking the English channel, world leaders on Sunday rose to their feet to pay tribute to elderly veterans of the D-Day landings who 60 years ago to the day risked their lives in the fight to liberate Europe.

Watched by crowned heads, presidents and prime ministers, more than 100 former soldiers from 14 Allied countries - many of them frail and helped by younger escorts - received a standing ovation as they marched past at the start of the main international June 6 commemoration.

In berets, bush-hats, baseball-caps and tam o'shanters, they received the homage of an audience anxious to render what is probably a last thank you to the men who came ashore in the Normandy landings. Some veterans and many in the stands were struggling to keep back tears.

French President Jacques Chirac symbolically presented one veteran from each of the 14 nations with a medal of the Legion of Honour.

Heroes

"To you, legendary heroes of that blood-red dawn of June 6 1944, to you, children of the world thrown so young into the fire of war? on behalf of all French men and women and all the heads of state and government gathered here today and all freedom-loving people, I express our gratitude our pride and our admiration," Chirac said.

"The torch you carried so high and so far, the torch of freedom and law, dignity and respect for mankind, of justice and democracy, still lights our way ... France will never forget," he said.

The high-point of the 12 D-Day ceremonies began with a 21-gun salute fired from a French frigate anchored beside the remains of the artificial "Mulberry" harbour that can still be seen off the small port of Arromanches. The harbour, floated across the Channel 60 years ago, was a vital lifeline for the Allies after June 6.

Chirac sat next to Queen Elizabeth II of England and his wife Bernadette was beside President George W. Bush. President Vladimir Putin - the first Russian leader to attend D-Day commemorations - was also in the front row. Gerhard Schroeder - the first German to be present - sat behind alongside British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Altogether 19 heads of state or government were present among the 1 800 guests in a purpose-built arena on a hill overlooking Arromanches. Most had taken part in national and bi-national ceremonies along the coast during the day, and attended a lunch hosted by Chirac in the city of Caen.

Tribute to US

In an address Chirac paid particular homage to the American sacrifices on D-Day, which he earlier evoked in a Franco-US act of remembrance at Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery and memorial.

"France will never forget what it owes America, its steadfast friend and ally? Like all the countries of Europe, France is keenly aware that the Atlantic Alliance, forged in adversity, remains in the face of new threats, a fundamental element of our collective security," he said.

Chirac also said that France wanted Germany to be represented so it could "remember with us those hours when the ideal of freedom returned to our continent.

"We hold up the example of Franco-German reconciliation, to show the world that hatred has no future, that a path to peace is always possible," Chirac said.

After his address, guests watched an evocation of the war in readings and music, with images projected onto giant screens.

Off-shore, ships from Allied navies manoeuvred next to France's new aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, and jets roared overhead, laying out a long trail of red, white and blue.

- AFP