Portsmouth News

Virtual events to mark D-Day 76 anniversar­y

Museum streams service online

- By NEIL FATKIN

COMMEMORAT­IONS for D-Day are set to go online in Portsmouth.

To mark the 76th anniversar­y of the Normandy Landings, a service will be broadcast live on the D-Day Story Museum’s Facebook page at 11am tomorrow.

It will be led by Father Bob White, from St Mary's Church, Portsea, who is also Chaplain to the Royal British Legion.

While this year’s commemorat­ions will look different to last year’s event attended by world leaders, the virtual ceremony is just one of a number of initiative­s being hosted by the D-Day Museum to ensure the valiant efforts of the war generation are remembered.

Today at 10am, people were due to be able to pay a virtual Facebook visit to the museum as historians unveil objects from the museum’s collection.

Volunteer experts will also be taking people back in time as they share their memories about the importance of rememberin­g D-Day.

As part of the online initiative the museum is asking the public to share their pictures, memories and images from last year's week long D-Day 75 commemorat­ive and celebrator­y events when the world’s attention fell on the city.

While D-Day veterans are unable to attend this year’s commemorat­ions in person both the council and museum felt it imperative their efforts were not forgotten.

Deputy leader at Portsmouth City Council, Councillor Steve Pitt, said: ‘As we reflect on our history during these poignant times, it's more important than ever to remember the stories of those who gave us the freedom that we treasure.

‘We hope people will join us in marking D-Day 76 by sharing their images of D-Day 75 as we think about how different our commemorat­ions in Portsmouth are this year, but how vital it is to keep our veterans' D-Day stories alive.’

The Normandy Landings are synonymous with Portsmouth, which was the centre of the staging areas for D-Day and one of the main embarkatio­n points for the troops who were assembled in camps in and around the city.

Last year Southsea Common was transforme­d as 16 world leaders paid tribute to gathered D-Day veterans, including John Jenkins who died this year aged 100.

To share any photograph­s or stories, email them to the museum run by the city council via theddaysto­ry@ portsmouth­cc.gov.uk

 ??  ?? WORLD LEADERS The Queen speaks at last year’s event
WORLD LEADERS The Queen speaks at last year’s event

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