73rd D-Day Marked with Ceremony and Celebration in Normandy, France

All throughout the Normandy region of France, soldiers, leaders, and enthusiasts gather alike all week long to celebrate the anniversary of D-Day.

By Spc. Joseph R Agacinski , U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus Normandy, France Jun 07, 2017

Gallery contains 12 images

All throughout the Normandy region of France, soldiers, leaders, and enthusiasts gather alike all week long to celebrate the anniversary of June 6, 1944, a day that unites all Europeans and Americans in the single bond of victory. They gather to pay tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in what was to be the turning point in WWII, which would ultimately lead to the Allied victory.

Celebrations culminated in a special celebratory parade in St. Mere-Eglise, France, a strategic city which would link the Allied powers from the beaches to a specific area where the Allied powers could continue their campaign against tyranny.

Solemn memorial ceremonies to the Airborne and Ranger soldiers who assisted in taking out the Axis weaponry were held preceding the parade, and paratroopers participated in a commemorative jump, honoring those gone before them by carrying on their legacy.

The USAREUR Band, whose predecessors were led by Glenn Miller, marched the streets of liberated Europe once again, performing military marches that would have been performed in the era.

Significant speeches were given by General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who spoke of the bravery of the young men, who were asked for far greater a sacrifice and selflessness than what should be expected of young men their age.

General Scaparrotti, along with the American Legion, was on hand to assist in dedicating a memorial plaque at the Iron Mike memorial in St. Mere-Eglise, France, close to where the Airborne soldiers would have landed 73 years ago.

Ceremonies will continue throughout the week marking the 73rd anniversary of the beginning of the liberation of Allied Europe.

Playing the piano at 45,000 feet: Ramstein hosts NATO fighter exercise

French delegation visits USEUCOM, strengthens strategic partnership

Ramstein hosts multi-national aero-medical exchange

Exercise Sea Breeze 2023-3 kicks off in Romania

U.S. Sixth Fleet, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO mark conclusion of exercise Formidable Shield 2023

U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II makes historic first on highway in Finland

IT Systems Security Cooperation Summit: Enhancing integration among Allies, partners

USEUCOM's cyber directorate concluded its 2024 Command, Control, Computers and Communications (C4) Security Cooperation Summit on Aug. 9, 2024, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, after bringing together more than 80 representatives from multiple U.S. organizations to assist in C4 security cooperation planning.

USS Oscar Austin one of two U.S. Navy DDGS homeport shifting to Rota, Spain

The move will increase the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed operational footprint in EUCOM to five destroyers in Rota, allowing for more operational flexibility within the European theater

U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II makes historic first on highway in Finland

IT Systems Security Cooperation Summit: Enhancing integration among Allies, partners

USS Oscar Austin one of two U.S. Navy DDGS homeport shifting to Rota, Spain

The move will increase the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed operational footprint in EUCOM to five destroyers in Rota, allowing for more operational flexibility within the European theater

U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II makes historic first on highway in Finland

IT Systems Security Cooperation Summit: Enhancing integration among Allies, partners

USS Oscar Austin one of two U.S. Navy DDGS homeport shifting to Rota, Spain

The move will increase the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed operational footprint in EUCOM to five destroyers in Rota, allowing for more operational flexibility within the European theater