6 June 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings, otherwise known as D-Day, one of the most heroic operations during World War II and the biggest sea-born invasion in military history. To say thank you to the veterans and celebrate their victory, we compiled a guide of 7 ways to commemorate the occasion.
1. Visit Normandy, France
The most obvious place to be: this is where the grandest events are happening: fireworks, concerts, parachute drops, sound and light shows and many more. It is also a big gathering of the heads of the allied states: this year at least 16 are expected, including the US President Barack Obama, the British PM David Cameron as well as the Queen.
2. Explore the Churchill War Rooms in London
To shelter from the bombings during the war, Churchill and his government operated from an underground location underneath the Treasury building in London. The war rooms were in use between 1940 and 1945 and witnessed the most intense cabinet meetings in the 20th century history. The bunker is now a museum and you can discover the wartime stories and explore the maze of rooms including the War Cabinet Room, the Transatlantic Telephone Room as well as Churchill’s Kitchen.
3. Eat fish and chips
Unlike most food, fish wasn’t rationed during the war and turned into one of the favourite wartime meals. Fish supper was the comfort food needed in the difficult times and, as virtually only takeaway available, fish and chips shops were thriving. It might be why the British soldiers identified each other during the ‘D’ Day landings by calling out ‘fish’ and the response or password was ‘chips’.
4. Pay tribute at the National D-Day Memorial in Virginia, USA
The memorial is located in Bedford, Virginia, in the community which suffered the highest per capita losses in the nation as a result of D-Day. There will be a special ceremony taking place at the Memorial on 6 June with many dignitaries attending from around the world.
5. Visit the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth
Opened on the 40th anniversary of D-Day in 1984, it is the only museum in Britain entirely dedicated to D-Day and the place where you can learn about all aspects of 6 June 1944. The museum is also host to the world’s longest embroidery of its kind, the Overlord Embroidery. Named after Operation Overlord – the code name of Battle of Normandy, it is 272 feet long and pays a tribute to the sacrifice of everyone taking part in the Operation.
6. Take a cruise on the Liberty Ship in USA
The fleet of 2,710 ‘Liberties’ played a huge part in the Normandy invasion. There are only 2 active ships left: SS Jeremiah O’Brien and SS John W. Brown, both serving as living museums. You can board O’Brien in San Francisco or Brown in Baltimore, help the preservation project and learn the history by participating in a Living History Cruise.
7. Watch a D-Day Parade or an aircraft display
From a parade in Lyme Regis, UK to an aircraft show in Ardmore, New Zealand, there are events taking place around the world. Find one near you and admire the bravery of the war heroes.
(Featured image The National Guard)
