Yesterday I watched the live broadcast of the 70th commemoration of D-Day at the beaches of Normandy in France. I tried to make some photos from televison to show you but you must forgive me for the quality.
It was so touching to see the last heroes of the battle, all men in their ninetees now.
They came from all over the world to attend probably for the last time this huge commemoration.
At the beach was a perfomance of the battle by french actors.
With in the end a huge firework at daylight.
President Obama was present as many other leaders of countries. And the lady in yellow is our own Queen Maxima who was seated behind him.
Queen Elisabeth of England talking to the former combatants. She was one of the rare leaders of a country who had personal memories of WWII.
The headache issue for the organisation was how to keep Obama and Putin apart. They were placed far from each other during the performance on the beach, but the french televison placed them together on the screen for a moment which everybody could see. The two presidents did see themselves as well on the big screens which was very funny to see how they reacted at that.
My favorite take away from this week's events were the two D-Day vets who parachuted to the event. :-)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt was an incredible day of events. I also watched much of it on TV. My son in law's grandfather was a veteran of the D Day landings but he refuses to speak of it as do many who were there. I don't think we can come anywhere near to imagining the horror of it all.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDearest Marianne,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIndeed will it be almost certain That none of Those Men in Their Nineties will be present at a next D-Day Commemoration. If you would like to, see this as it is the best speech ever given at D-Day: Normandy Speech: Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-Day 6/6/84
Hugs and happy Pentecost weekend to you and yours!
Mariette
I too watched a lot of it on television. and it made me tear up more than once.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMe too Marianne, I watched it also.. Such a beautiful service.. Lets hope the world leaders will take note for future reference..
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIk heb er weinig van gezien, maar ze hadden er een groots evenement van gemaakt. Leuk om je foto's te zien.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenA truly amazing day for these veterans of the invasion. I watched programs here, too, and enjoyed every minute of them. One of our networks showcased,interviewed, and told the story for one hour of 4 soldiers from different branches of the service and their families that joined them on the trip to Normandy. Fascinating!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenYour TV pictures came out very well. I find it amazing that the two parachuted out again onto the beach being in their 90's. As Fun60 wrote, I think I too would just choose not to speak about it had I been there.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI listened to speeches and documentaries on the radio most of the day. So moving and really, unimaginable for the men who were there. One of the programs included interviews of female war correspondents who were there. I didn't know there were any.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe 70th anniversary has been done very well and a lot of very meaningful information has been passed on.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe pics work very well.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenYour pic of Maxima strikes a chord- today I was in a church here, looking at Yousuf Karsh photographs of her husband's mother, aunts, and grandparents at the baptism of Margriet.
That is a very impressive memorial.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGreetings,
Filip
It is important that that we keep this memory alive and pass it on to our children.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenPost very well done. As you were watching this yesterday on your TV, we were having a "Relay For Life Celebration and Walk". Yes, Queen Elizabeth has good memories of this and has talked about it on occasion. I had to laugh with Obama and Putin when they put their photos together. Does that film man still have a job. ha,ha I did watch the celebration and remembrances on internet TV. Very well done post - lots of memories.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenik heb ook geprobeerd foto's van tv te nemen maar niet gelukt
BeantwoordenVerwijderenbravo !
maxima ziet er altijd schitterend uit
Lol Obama is ducking isn't he. Good to have these memmorations. In NZ we have ANZAC day
BeantwoordenVerwijderenas a lot of soldiers died in WW2 in Gallipoli