70th anniversary of D-Day landings in Normandy (France)

Robert F. Sargent WWI Europe France Into the Jaws of Death – U.S. Troops wading through water and Nazi gunfire ca. 06.06.1944

Here is the program for June 6th:

9.00 a.m.: at the Memorial of Caen with French President Francois Hollande and 1000 guests

9:40 a.m.: ceremony at the American cemetery of Colleville sur Mer with French President, Francois Hollande, American President Barrack Obama and in front of 10,000 people

9387 soldiers are buried at the cemetery.

11:30 a.m.: ceremony at the UK cemetery and cathedral of Bayeux with the French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, Queen Elisabeth II, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the British Prime Minister David Cameron and other political figures

12.15 p.m.: at the castle of Benouville with the French President, Francois Hollande and the French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls. It is an official lunch with veterans and country representatives.

American cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, Basse Normandy – copyright Veronique GRAY

14:15 p.m.: international ceremony at Ouistreham with the French President, Francois Hollande and French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls.

3:00 p.m: international ceremony at Sword Beach with US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande and other world lead17:30 Franco/Canadian ceremony at Courseulles-sur-Mer with the French Prime Minister.

5:00 p.m.: ceremony at the Polish cemetery at Urville-Langannerie with the French President, Francois Hollande

From 5.00 p.m.: event at Arromanches-les-Bains with a veteran’s parade

5:30 p.m: Franco/Canadian ceremony at Courseulles-sur-Mer with the French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls

8.30 p.m.: a concert for peace at Sainte Marie sur Mère, the first liberated village on June 6th