At a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, an American veteran and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared an emotional moment, calling each other heroes. Retired Staff Sgt. Melvin Hurwitz, 99, and other veterans were honored by foreign dignitaries as they remembered the landings in Normandy. When Hurwitz met Zelenskyy, he kissed the Ukrainian leader’s hand and embraced him, expressing his admiration by calling him the savior of the people. Zelenskyy, in return, humbly stated that it was the veterans who saved Europe. The crowd erupted in applause as Hurwitz requested a photo with the Ukrainian president and shared that he prays for him.
The conflict in Ukraine cast a shadow over the anniversary, serving as a stark reminder that war has returned to Europe. Zelenskyy was warmly welcomed with a standing ovation and cheers, while Russia, a former World War II ally who invaded Ukraine in 2022, was not invited to the commemoration. The day’s events honoring the thousands of Allied soldiers who died on D-Day and the many more who perished in the Battle of Normandy were somber, with fears that the lessons of World War II are being forgotten.