An American World War II veteran shared a poignant moment with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday at the 80th anniversary commemoration ceremony of D-Day in Normandy, France.
The D-Day operation on June 6, 1944, united the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies in what became the largest amphibious invasion in military history. Codenamed Operation OVERLORD, this massive endeavor landed five naval assault divisions on the beaches of Normandy.
The Allied invasion of France on D-Day signified the beginning of the end for the Nazi regime and holds a significant place in the collective memory of Western democracies. The day's significance is all the more profound given the ongoing war in Ukraine, the first full-scale war on the European continent since the end of World War II.
The unidentified D-Day veteran was captured on video shaking hands with Zelenskyy. The veteran then unexpectedly kissed Zelenskyy’s hand, prompting both men to burst into laughter.
The veteran then embraced Zelensky from his wheelchair and remarked:
"You are the savior of the people."
To that, Zelenskyy responded:
"No, no. You saved Europe. No, you are our hero."
The veteran, apparently referencing the war in Ukraine, replied:
"I pray for you."
The crowd applauded as the two men spoke, smiling all the while.
You can watch the moment in the video below.
Zelenskyy's appeared at the event shortly after scheduling a meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss the current situation in Ukraine and explore ways to further enhance support for the country, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Sullivan added that Biden will be with Zelenskyy in Italy for the Group of Seven meeting next week.
His encounter with the veteran is particularly symbolic given the ongoing challenges his nation faces amid continued Russian aggression—and people were profoundly moved by it.
Among the event's attendees were King Charles and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. The royal couple visited the Ministry of Defense and participated in the Royal British Legion’s ceremony at the beachfront British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.
As reported by AP News, French President Emmanuel Macron honored eleven U.S. WWII veterans with France’s highest distinction, the Legion of Honor.
Among them was Christian Lamb, now 103, who was among the hundreds of thousands of military women who "worked behind the scenes in crucial non-combat roles such as codebreakers, ship plotters, radar operators and cartographers." Lamb said that on that historic day, she "really wanted [to do] anything that would help me to get … France back to the French."
Saving Private Ryan star Tom Hanks and the film's director Steven Spielberg were also on hand for the ceremony and Hanks was praised for his statements about the heroism and legacy of the veterans.
Hanks—who regularly advocates on behalf of those veterans who are still with us all these years later—expressed confidence that the stories of these veterans will continue to be told thanks to young people on social media who encourage their grandparents and great-grandparents to share their stories with the masses.
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