Among the many heads of state and government at the memorial ceremonies in Normandy, the queen, 88, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 93, were the only leading figures who had served in World War II. They received a warm welcome in France. The ceremonies provoked many reflections on events that took place 70 years ago.
In Britain the first thoughts were of the many who had been killed or wounded in the invasion. There was sympathy for the veterans who in their late '80s and '90s made their way back to the beaches on which they had landed so many years ago. We remembered our American allies who had come in huge numbers to a beleaguered and isolated Britain after the Americans declared war on Germany in December 1941.
Without the vast numbers of American soldiers and airmen, the invasion would not have been possible. We also remembered the Canadian and other Allied contingents who had taken part in that dangerous enterprise.