With silent remembrance and respect, world leaders have honored the fallen and the bravery of all Allied troops who sloshed through bloodied water to the beaches of Normandy 75 years ago on D-Day.
French President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump praised the soldiers, sailors and airmen, the survivors and those who lost their lives, in speeches on Thursday that credited the 6 June in 1944, surprise air and sea operation that brought tens of thousands of men to Normandy.
You are the pride of our nation, you are the glory of our republic, and we thank you from the bottom of our heart," Mr Trump said.
Mr Macron praised their courage, generosity and strength of spirit that made them press on "to help men and women they didn't know, to liberate a land most hadn't seen before, for no other cause but freedom, democracy."
D-Day was the largest air and sea invasion in history, involving around 160,000 troops on that day itself and many more in the ensuing Battle of Normandy. Of those 73,000 were from the United States, while 83,000 were from Britain and Canada and 3000 were from Australia.
The commemoration marks the fourth day for President Trump in Europe, where he met the leaders of America's historic allies.
The balance of powers and relationship today felt very different than 75 years ago, as our US Politics expert Giampiero Gramaglia commented.
