Crowds cheered as U.S. veterans arrived at French airports ahead of ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a turning point in World War Two when more than 150,000 Allied soldiers landed in Normandy to drive out Nazi German forces.
Many of those flying in over the weekend and Monday were older than 100, pushed on wheelchairs by relatives and helpers.
"I lost some great friends. All of these people who are out there on their crosses and unmarked graves are the true heroes. It gives me a chance to pay tribute to them which they so need," he added. "It's like it happened yesterday. You wouldn't believe what I have seen. Terrible. Some of the young fellows never reached the major beach ... sometimes it wakes you up at night," he added.
Across Normandy, where beaches and fields still bear the scars of the fighting that erupted on June 6, 1944 and the weeks that followed,In Vierville-sur-Mer, a town just above Omaha Beach - one of the sectors where U.S. soldiers landed - a re-enactment camp was set up, giving visitors a chance to see what equipment the soldiers used.
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