A small group of hardy Normandy veterans braved the cold Wellington weather to attend a special wreath-laying ceremony on Sunday 7 June to mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day.
The ceremony, in the Hall of Memories at the National War Memorial in Wellington, was officiated by Principal Defence Chaplain Donald Parker.
Normandy veteran Ken Boyden gave the D-Day address, recalling the massive combined invasion which involved 6,500 ships carrying more than 250,000 soldiers.
He remembered the utter confusion and many deaths of the invasion and the terrible toll paid by both soldiers and French civilians. “The locals were told they had 30 minutes to leave their homes.” He asked the audience to close their eyes and imagine what the chaos of Normandy must have been like. He also spoke about how there are only a few veterans of Normandy left now and that they will never forget their old comrades.
Wreaths were laid by a number of official guests including the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson, representing the New Zealand Government, diplomats from the British High Commission, French Embassy, High Commission of Canada and United States Embassy, and Commodore Ross Smith, representing the New Zealand Defence Force.
The Ode to the Fallen was recited by Honorary Life President of the Normandy Veterans Association David Christison, Legion d’Honneur.
At the end of the ceremony veterans and guests laid poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.