NORMANDY, France(Press Release) – In ceremonies at Omaha Beach and Sword Beach in Normandy, U.S. Rep. Susan A. Davis paid tribute to World War II veterans, including her father who served in the European theater, on the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
“In commemorating this longest day of war on June 6, 1944, we observed a day full of gratitude to those who sacrificed and those who bear witness today to say thank you. By all historical accounts this was the day that saved the world from tyranny,” said Rep. Davis, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.
“What was so impressive in meeting with these veterans as they have reached or are approaching their nineties, is to acknowledge that they were not even in their twenties on that epoch day. I will never forget how much I learned and the emotions I felt. I wish I could have shared it with my Dad who served as a medic throughout the war but like so many of his compatriots moved on with his life and did not speak about his experience.”
Davis’s father, Captain George Alpert, served as an Army medic in the European theater. Davis was part of a bipartisan delegation from Congress that attended memorial ceremonies across the beaches of Normandy.
On the morning of Friday, June 6, a ceremony honoring American veterans was held at Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach hosted by President Barack Obama and French President François Hollande.
Attending the Omaha Beach ceremony were 81 American WW II veterans, including five from the San Diego area. Davis said it was an overwhelming honor to meet these veterans, including her friend Jack Port who was recently featured as one of San Diego’s attending heroes.
An international ceremony occurred Friday afternoon at Sword Beach with President Obama and Allied heads of state. President Hollande in his remarks quoted President Eisenhower: “Americans were not sure what they were fighting for in Europe, but in liberating the concentration camps they knew what they were fighting against.”
The largest seaborne invasion in history began at 6:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944 when 155,000 troops hit the beaches of Normandy. The five beaches where the Allies landed were code named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. By the night of June 6, 1944, more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were dead or wounded.
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Preceding provided by Congresswoman Susan Davis