A Royal British Legion spokesman spoke to GB News
A Royal British Legion spokesman has told of the importance of educating the next generation on the service of those who took part in D Day.
Speaking at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire Antony Metcalfe, Head of Community Engagement, praised the ‘resilient generation’ and said ‘we must not take their experiences for granted.’
Speaking on GB News Mr Metcalfe said: “We put at the heart of today's events 26 veterans that we had here today from the D Day Normandy landings. The youngest one was approaching 97 and the oldest 104.
“And it is really important that we placed their stories at the heart of it, and their personal testimonies and the films that they made, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It's so important that we listen to their experiences 80 years ago on those beaches.
“They are such a resilient generation, and we mustn't take their experiences for granted. When they landed on those beaches and liberated Western Europe from the Nazis, they produced the freedom and the liberty that we take so for granted today.
“So it's really important that we treasure that and we make sure we pass that torch on to the next generation.
“And we had, cadets who were 17, 18 [years old] themselves reading experiences from guys who hit the beaches the same ages of them. And you look at them and think, ‘they look so young’, but that's what those guys were 80 years ago - 16,17, 18, and upwards.
“What they went through and what they achieved is absolutely amazing. We must make sure that we educate the next generation on their service and their sacrifice.
“They are such a humble generation, and it's often not until they approach later in age, they start talking about their experiences. But of course, we all know that this is probably the last chance we'd ever get a big group together here in the UK and in Normandy, but we'll still look to commemorate D Day, and other commemorations every single year, and to make sure their stories are passed on.”
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