Emmanuel Macron praises the “spirit of sacrifice” at the start of the D-Day commemorations – rts.ch

“I know our country is strong in its bold, valiant youth, ready for the same spirit of sacrifice as its elders,” declared the Head of State during a first tribute to Plumelec, in Morbihan.

To today’s elite units, represented in large numbers, he added “as the dangers mount”, “you remind us that we are ready to make the same sacrifices to defend what is most dear to us: our land of France and our republican values”.

The president paid tribute to the memory of the Breton maquisards and the first paratroopers of Free France within the SAS, the British special forces, who launched Operation Overlord on the night of June 5 to 6 to open a new front against Adolf Hitler .

The Landing of June 6, organized in the greatest secrecy by the Americans, the British and the men of General de Gaulle, would open the way to the liberation of France and the defeat of Nazi Germany, and therefore to the end of the Second World War.

It was in Plumelec that “the first French soldier of the Landing fell”, Corporal Emile Bouétard, “young sailor from Côtes-d’Armor” who had joined England, recalled Emmanuel Macron.

“He was one of my friends,” added Colonel Achille Muller, the last of the French paratroopers who participated in the operation.

To younger generations, this “99 and a half year old” man advises to cultivate “memory”. “If France were attacked tomorrow, they would have to do the same thing as us,” he says, red beret screwed on his head in a very light drizzle.

Like him, veterans still alive are in the spotlight during these celebrations, especially since due to their age, this will be the last major meeting in which they will be able to participate. Dozens of American, Canadian and British veterans, some of whom participated in the “longest day”, have already arrived in Normandy.

Arrival of Joe Biden in France

Joe Biden also arrived in France on Wednesday morning. On Thursday, the President of the United States will join the beaches of Normandy for the international ceremony to commemorate D-Day.

In his presence, but also with King Charles III (read also boxed), the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz or the Italian head of state Sergio Mattarella, the French president will be able to display the unity of Westerners while a major conflict once again hits Europe.

Meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden

A strong symbol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be there, while Russia, invited ten years ago, was formally excluded from the ceremonies precisely because of its “war of aggression” against Ukraine.

On the sidelines of these ceremonies, Joe Biden will speak with his Ukrainian counterpart to see “how we can continue to deepen our support”, indicated the White House.

As the European elections, announced as very bad for his camp, approach, Emmanuel Macron decided this year to extend the commemorations over three days. He will then welcome Volodymyr Zelensky to the Elysée on Friday and Joe Biden on Saturday.

“In Normandy, but also in Brittany, we will continue to honor all the memories of those who contributed to our liberation: those who stood up to fight Nazism, those who fought on all fronts, those who suffered and those who took all the risks to ease the suffering”, he wrote in the press kit for this extraordinary memorial and diplomatic meeting.

In Plumelec, “all the flags” installed as part of the commemorations were stolen during the night” from Monday to Tuesday, according to the town hall which also reported damage to bus shelters with inscriptions proclaiming in particular “Macron out of Brittany”.

ats/vajo