(4 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France – 4 June 2024
1. Various of US World War II veterans using wheelchairs arriving at Normandy’s Memorial Plaza at Pointe du Hoc
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Henry Armstrong, 100, D-Day Omaha Beach veteran:
"The reason I enlisted in the army was that I wanted to serve my country. But it just happened to be during World War II. But I came over here and landed at Omaha Beach and served all the way through France, into Germany, and into Austria.”
3. Various of ceremony during US national anthem
4. Veterans
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Henry Armstrong, 100, D-Day Omaha Beach veteran:
"I spent 41 years in the army, I like the army. I like serving my country. And I think that’s the important thing, is you’ve got an obligation, live up to your obligation.“
6. Veterans clapping
7. Various of wreath being laid at ceremony
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Henry Armstrong, 100, D-Day Omaha Beach veteran:
"Before Normandy, I had no idea what was going to happen. And when it did happen, I did my best to help what I could, what I could do to help. And after Normandy, it is the same thing. I’m still trying to do what I can to help basically my fellow man.”
9. Wide of veterans looking at aircraft
10. Pan of military aircraft flying over ceremony
11. Various of veterans at ceremony
12. Various of military trumpeter playing
13. Wide of guard of honor
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Tanner Armstrong, US soldier and great-grandson of Omaha Beach veteran Henry Armstrong:
"Being a military family it’s really special to grow up, knowing that my great-grandfather and my father they all fought in wars for the freedom of these nations. And I’m just very proud.”
15. Various of US soldiers greeting veterans
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Tanner Armstrong, US soldier and great-grandson of Omaha Beach veteran Henry Armstrong:
"I guess I wouldn’t want to do anything differently because they did a pretty good job themselves.”
17. Various of WWII veterans eating together
STORYLINE:
American veterans World War II, many of them centenarians, joined a ceremony at Normandy’s Memorial Plaza on Tuesday ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Pointe du Hoc, near Omaha Beach, was one of the deadliest sites for the Allied operation to land in northern France on June 6, 1944.
Many accompanied by family members, the veterans came to the memorial to remember fallen friends, where they also met with current serving US military personnel.
"Before Normandy, I had no idea what was going to happen. And when it did happen, I did what I could do to help,” said Henry Armstrong, 100, who was among those to land on Omaha Beach.
His great-grandson Tanner Armstrong, himself now a member of the US Army, expressed his pride in his family history.
Allied veterans of World War II are the VVIPs of 80th anniversary celebrations this week, and have gathered across Normandy, where the largest-ever land, sea and air armada punctured Adolf Hitler’s defenses in western Europe.
More than 4,400 Allied troops were killed on D-Day, including more than 2,500 Americans.
The Allied toll grew appallingly in the Battle of Normandy that ensued, with 73,000 killed and 153,000 wounded.
AP video by: Bela Szandelszky
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