70 D-Day anniversary, the longest day

06/06/14

Today, at the American monumental cemetery of Omaha Beach, in the midst of around 10.000 white crosses of those killed for freedom, in the presence of the president of the United States of America and the highest institutional offices of many countries, the ceremony of commemoration of the 70 anniversary of the landing.

A representative of paratroopers of the Folgore brigade, guests of the paratroopers of the 173 ° American paratroop brigade stationed in Vicenza and the hundreds of delegations from all parts of the world, participated in the celebrations to express the reverent and touched homage to the heroes who have allowed Europe to regain its freedom.

70 years later the sentiments of brotherhood, esteem and friendship that bind those peoples and nations, which once stood on opposite sides, are stronger than ever.

During the D-Day only, on the five landing beaches 10.000 allied soldiers and between the 4 and the German 9.000 lost their lives.

In 24 hours the allies succeeded in establishing bridgeheads from which, in the following days, men and vehicles continued to land until they created an invasion force of nearly one and a half million in a long and difficult campaign (Operation Overlord) against 700.000 Germans who took almost two months to take Paris, then released the August 25.

Next Sunday, 700 Italian, German, Dutch, French, Canadian, British and American paratroopers, using XAFMXX C14J aircraft from USAAF will carry out an exercise of airborne at the Launch area in Saint-Mère - E'glise.

Source: Command of Terrestrial Operations Forces