Today, Thursday 6th June, a flag was raised outside the Surrey Heath Borough Council offices at Surrey Heath House to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
80 years ago in the early morning of 6th June 1944, Allied Forces launched the largest seaborne invasion in history on the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. At the time, Nazi Germany and the Axis occupied much of mainland Europe and had erected an extensive system of coastal defences and fortifications, known as the Atlantic Wall, in anticipation of an Allied invasion.
Some 156,000 Allied soldiers had landed on the beaches by the end of the day, with troops from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and other Allied nations. 4,414 were confirmed dead.
Their bravery and sacrifice marked the turning point of the Second World War. By August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and in the spring of 1945, the Allies had defeated the Axis powers.
Representatives from Surrey Heath Borough Council, Councillors, and Ed McGuinness, a veteran, attended the event.
Commenting, Ed McGuinness said:
"It was an honour to attend a humbling and intimate flag raising ceremony at Surrey Heath house today in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.
"Our freedoms are something I hold dear and the freedom of democracy is at the very top.
"May we remember them."
Pictured, the flag raising ceremony at Surrey Heath House
