For Heroes of D-Day, This Reunion Might Be a ‘Last Hurrah’
By JAMES BARRON
Published: June 6, 2014
OMAHA BEACH, France — The men who stormed the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago are getting old, and many are dying. So this year’s anniversary of D-Day is being billed as a “last hurrah” for the dwindling band of survivors.
On Wednesday, a group of veterans gathered on Omaha Beach, where they had landed on June 6, 1944, to remember the day and the friends they lost.
“I’m 92 years old,” said John S. “Jack” Hynes, a former Army sergeant who was a medic on Omaha Beach. “I’m not going to be here much longer.”
Mr. Hynes, who lives in New York, was one of about 100 veterans who gathered at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach for a ceremony on Wednesday.
The veterans, many of them in their 90s, were greeted by President François Hollande of France, who said, “We are here to honor the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for our freedom.”
The president also said that the United States and France were “united in the fight against terrorism.”
The veterans were also greeted by President Barack Obama, who spoke at a ceremony at the American Cemetery on Thursday.
“We gather to honor the valor of those who stormed these shores,” Mr. Obama said. “We come to pay tribute to the young men who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.”
The president also said that the United States and its allies were “united in the fight against terrorism.”
The veterans who gathered on Wednesday were part of a group of about 1,500 who are expected to attend events in Normandy this week.
The veterans were greeted by President François Hollande of France, who said, “We are here to honor the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for our freedom.”
The president also said that the United States and France were “united in the fight against terrorism.”