Queen gives personal thanks to D-Day veterans

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‍A service of commemoration has begun in southern England to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, with leaders of the wartime Allies joining some 300 World War II veterans on Wednesday.

UK's Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, other leaders of the wartime Allies — as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel — all came to the seaside ceremony in Portsmouth.

Queen Elizabeth II has given an unusually personal thank you to veterans for their sacrifice during the D-Day invasion.

"When I attended the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, some thought it might be the last such event. But the wartime generation — my generation — is resilient, and I am delighted to be with you in Portsmouth today," the 93-year-old monarch said.

She praised the "hundreds of thousands of young soldiers, sailors and airmen (who) left these shores in the cause of freedom."

93-year-old British WWII veteran, Sid Barnes, arrives at the Normandy British Cemetery in Bayeux, north-western France, June 5, 2019. /VCG Photo

In closing, the Queen said: "Many of them would never return, and the heroism, courage, and sacrifice of those who lost their lives will never be forgotten. It is with humility and pleasure, on behalf of the entire country —indeed the whole free world — that I say to you all, thank you."

Leaders of World War II allies have read first-hand testimonies on stage from participants in the conflict commemorate the anniversary.

British Prime Minister Theresa May read from a letter written by Capt. Norman Skinner of the Royal Army Service Corps to his wife, Gladys, on June 3, 1944, a few days before the invasion.

He wrote: "Although I would give anything to be back with you, I have not yet had any wish at all to back down from the job we have to do." He was killed the day after D-Day.

French President Emmanuel Macron read from a letter sent by a young resistance fighter, Henri Fertet, before he was executed at the age of 16.

The letter said: "I am going to die for my country. I want France to be free and the French to be happy."

Before he began Macron said: "First, let me thank you sincerely, on behalf of my nation" — drawing cheers from spectators gathered in Portsmouth.

Workers place U.S. and French flags at the graves of U.S. soldiers at Normandy American Cemetery near Colleville-Sur-Mer, France, June 5, 2019. /VCG Photo

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau read from the Victoria Cross citation of Lt. Col. Cecil Merritt, the first Canadian to be awarded the medal for gallantry for his leadership during the raid on Dieppe in 1942.

U.S. President Donald Trump read a prayer that President Franklin Roosevelt delivered in a radio address on June 6, 1944.

Roosevelt gave the prayer as U.S. and allied forces were crossing the English Channel to land on the beaches of Normandy, France.

Reading from the prayer, Trump said: "Almighty God, our sons, pride of our nation, this day, have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion and our civilization and to set free a suffering humanity."

Presidents, prime ministers and other representatives of the countries that fought alongside Britain: Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Poland have all been invited to honor the invasion.

Source(s): AP