U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined a bipartisan Senate delegation in Normandy, France, for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion by Allied forces during World War II. The 17-senator delegation joined President Donald J. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at an official ceremony at the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer to mark the milestone.
Prior to the ceremony, Senator Hawley and the delegation met with World War II veterans from the United States who made the trip for the special occasion. The delegation also met with General Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
On June 6, 1944, with American and Allied paratroopers positioned behind enemy lines, Allied forces waded through waist-deep waters amid hailing enemy gunfire to storm the beaches of Normandy, France, in an invasion called Operation Overlord, or “D-Day” as it is commonly referred to today. It was a joint naval, air and land assault marking the start of Allied forces’ campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe. More than 6,000 Americans died that day, but their sacrifice and heroism marked the beginning of the end of World War II.
“It’s a great honor to join the President and my colleagues in traveling with World War II veterans to honor their service on the 75th anniversary of D-Day,” said Senator Hawley. “The greatest generation stormed the beaches of Normandy in defense of the freedom we enjoy today. We are forever grateful for their sacrifices and I am humbled to be with them for this historic event.”
The D-Day 75th anniversary ceremony was attended by more than 150 veterans, U.S. elected officials, U.S. armed service members, dignitaries from our allied partners in the French government, and other participants.