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<p>To mark the 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Normandy Landings, the Ministry
of Defence (MOD) will support commemorative events in the United Kingdom and France.
The MOD is working closely with a range of stakeholders including the Normandy Memorial
Trust, The Royal British Legion, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Portsmouth
City Council and the French authorities in order to ensure that all commemorative
events are a success. Our Armed Forces are proud to support these important commemorations
as the nation pays tribute to the D-Day veterans who took part in the Normandy Landings
75 years ago.</p><p> </p><p>Over 4,000 Armed Forces personnel from the Royal Navy,
British Army and Royal Air Force will be mobilised to offer ceremonial and logistical
support to events on both sides of the English Channel. At least 11 Royal Navy vessels
and multiple aircraft from the Red Arrows to the iconic Spitfire will be involved
in events.</p><p> </p><p>On 5 June, the UK will host a national commemorative event
on Southsea Common, Portsmouth attended by D-Day veterans, representatives of the
nations involved in D-Day and current serving personnel. An RAF flypast of 26 aircraft
including the Red Arrows and a Spitfire will then take to the skies. In the evening,
a flotilla of Royal Navy ships will salute up to 300 Normandy veterans on board The
Royal British Legion’s specially chartered ship as they depart for Normandy, escorted
by HMS St Albans, a Type-23 Royal Navy frigate. In France, members of the Army’s 16
Air Assault Brigade will drop over Normandy from RAF aircraft to recreate the famous
airborne landings. In the evening, the Army will support events taking place at Pegasus
Bridge.</p><p> </p><p>On 6 June in Normandy, the Army will be at Arromanches to mark
the moment the first British soldier landed on Normandy’s beaches. Military musicians
and personnel will support the inauguration of The Normandy Memorial Trust’s statue
at Ver-Sur-Mer, in the presence of senior leaders. In Bayeux, The Royal British Legion
will hold events commencing with a service at Bayeux Cathedral and a cemetery service
at Commonwealth War Graves Commission Bayeux where they will be supported with a tri-service
Guard of Honour and military musicians. In the afternoon, British veterans, escorted
by Army personnel will move to Arromanches for informal events including a flypast
by the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.</p><p> </p><p>Any veterans
who would like to attend events in the UK or Normandy are encouraged to contact The
Royal British Legion at the following website: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/community/d-day-75/.
Information on how the public can attend events in Portsmouth is available at the
following website: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/D-Day-events.</p><p> </p><p></p><p>
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