La Manche will host the international ceremony of the 81st anniversary of the Landing

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Utah Beach will welcome in June 2025 the international memorial ceremony of Landing in Normandy.

It's at the bend of Sainte-Geneviève this weekend of November 30 and 1^is December 2024, in Carentan-les-Marais (Manche), that Stéphanie Petitjeanchief of staff of prefect of Manchedelivered the information.

Unanimous decision

Confirmation was made this Monday, December 2 by Jean Quetierthe president of the Landing Committee.

We have not yet made an official communication on the subject, but yes, the Committee made this decision during its last board meeting. It took three minutes to take it, and it was very unanimous.

One of the arguments put forward in favor of the range of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont by the first Manche president of the association (which escapes the choice of places for the “big” birthdays, which fall under the Elysée, Editor's note) “is that this year, the beaches at the eastern ends (Sword Beach at Ouistreham) and west (Utah Beach in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont) were perhaps a little neglected compared to the others… even if they were still the scene of beautiful ceremonies.”

A consolation, therefore, for Utah Beach, which had put itself, in vain, in the ranks for the international ceremony of the 80th birthday last June.

The size, however, will not be quite the same in 2025.

The difference is noticeable, it must be recognized, since instead of heads of state, the invited countries are represented on site by ambassadors. For France, we can imagine that there will be at least one minister, that of the Armed Forces.

It remains that the mayor of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont declares himself satisfied with the news.

“The last international ceremony at Utah Beach dates back to 2018. It’s good that we have this recognition,” judges Charles de Vallavieille.

Temporary cemeteries

The different nations concerned, apart from France and the United States, will be: Canada, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, the United Kingdom, but also Germany “which must have its full place within the framework of reconciliation.”

The president of the Landing Committee has already announced a “traditional” ceremony, with a time of contemplation at the location of one of temporary cemeteries of Sainte-Mère-Églisea laying of wreaths at the monument of the second DB in Saint-Martin-de-Varrevillewhile speeches and the raising of colors will take place near the Utah Beach Museum.

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