On 5 June 2019, in a speech in Portsmouth, HM the Queen led the British commemoration of D-Day. She recalled the “hundreds of thousands of young soldiers, sailors and airmen left these shores in the cause of freedom. In a broadcast to the nation at that time, my Father, King George VI, said: “…what is demanded from us all is something more than courage and endurance; we need a revival of spirit, a new unconquerable resolve…” That is exactly what those brave men brought to the battle, as the fate of the world depended on their success.”

“Many of them would never return, and the heroism, courage and sacrifice of those who lost their lives will never be forgotten. It is with humility and pleasure, on behalf of the entire country – indeed the whole free world – that I say to you all, thank you.”

The full event is available here:

On the following day, world leaders from the allied nations gathered in Normandy. In a US Presidential declaration, the White House poignantly recalled that day: “Awaiting these brave men was a shoreline littered with anti-landing obstacles, landmines, bunkers, and strategically positioned machine-gun nests.  These defenses inflicted devastating losses on the Allied forces.  1,465 Americans perished on the beaches of Normandy that day.  On Omaha Beach ‑‑  the bloodiest of the five ‑‑  the U.S. Army’s 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions suffered horrific losses:  2,400 soldiers were killed or wounded by day’s end.”

During the course of the day, President Trump gave an interview with the Laura Ingraham. Praising the veterans for their bravery and valour, Trump was later responded “Peace” when asked what he prayed for when he prayed.

Also of note is US commentator, Ben Shapiro’s interviews with four veterans of D-Day, Tom Rice, US Army, 101st Airborne Paratrooper; Mike LaVere, US Army Air Corps, B 24 Navigator; Jack Gutman, US Navy Corpsman; and, George Ciampa, US Army 607th.