‘Heroism of those who landed on Normandy’s beaches was a beacon of light for the world’
Rishi Sunak’s tribute to those who fought on D-Day
RISHI Sunak has hailed D-Day lionhearts as heroes who brought the world into the light ahead of the invasion’s 80th anniversary.
He will stand with global leaders on the beaches of Normandy in June to honour the 156,000 who stormed France to liberate Europe from the Nazis.
The King, Prince William, US President Joe Biden and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau are set to attend.
The PM, below, described Allied soldiers’ selfless sacrifice as the “light of peace brought out from the misery of darkness from which many unfortunately did not return”.
Brave
He added: “D-Day on June 6, 1944, was the largest naval, air and land operation in history, involving many hundreds of thousands of brave men who had to leave their families at home, not knowing if they would ever return home
– a feat we hope will never have to take place again.
“The heroism of those who landed on the shores of the Normandy beaches represented a beacon of light for the world during a particularly dark period of war.
“As we look forward to the future, I believe we should take strength from the shared hardship of our experience during [the war].That future is why so many of our servicemen gave their lives – and protecting the peace they fought for is the greatest way we can honour those who fell.”
D-Day saw soldiers from Britain, the Commonwealth, the US and their allies land on five beaches along the Normandy coast – Sword, Gold, Utah, Omaha and Juno.
The mission launched the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe and hastened the end of the war. The names of 22,442 soldiers who gave their lives under British command during the landings are immortalised on the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.
Mr Trudeau said more than a million Canadians served in the Second World War and 14,000 stormed Juno beach.
He added: “The soldiers courageously went into battle – not knowing if they would come home – to protect and fight for freedom, human rights and democracy.
“As we commemorate this day, let us also pay tribute to those who lost their lives 80 years ago.” He said of the war effort: “It is important we remember their selflessness as it is their sacrifices that allow us to enjoy the peace we have today.”