Re-enactors gathered at Utah Beach near Saint-Martin-de-Vareville Normandy to commemorate the events of D-Day. The ceremony took place on Thursday, June 6, 2024, where participants posed for photos and paid tribute to the Allied soldiers who landed on the beaches.
Among the crowd of thousands at Utah Beach were Alexandra Hamon, who celebrated the day with her two sons, Karl and Neils. The family watched the sunrise and drank champagne in honor of the freedom that D-Day represents. Utah Beach was one of the five landing spots for Allied troops, with American forces taking Utah and Omaha beaches at a heavy cost.
The Hamon family, from Saint Malo, a city heavily damaged during the fighting after D-Day, sat on their 1943 Dodge truck and gazed out at the serene English Channel. They reflected on the peaceful scene contrasted with the chaos that must have unfolded on D-Day, a day that changed the course of World War II.
Alexandra spoke of the unimaginable experiences that soldiers endured on D-Day, with thoughts of the boats, sounds, and images that must have haunted the veterans. She expressed admiration and respect for the dwindling D-Day veterans, acknowledging them as true heroes who should never be forgotten for their sacrifices and bravery on that historic day.