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>> hello, i'm christian fraser. this is the context. >> history tells us freedom is not free. if you want to know the price of freedom, come to normandy and look. go to the other cemeteries in europe or where fallen heroes rest. >> we are all today children of the d-day landings. >> those valiant veterans who managed to come to normandy know all too well the dangers of aggressive nationalism and the politics of hate. >> western leaders on the beaches of normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the d-day landings. a memorable day in france prayed what does it teach us in mind of the current threats we face? we hear from the family of one of the veterans, the canadian

bill cameron who died on friday. 100 years of age. just before they were due to leave for the commemorations. a warm welcome to the program. it has been a spectacular moving day in normandy. where kings and world leaders were humbled this afternoon by the stories from the veterans who had returned from probably the last time to mark the 80th anniversary of the d-day landings. at the new british memorial, the commemorations were attended by 40 veterans overlooking one of the beaches where allied troops first came ashore on the sixth of june, 1944. never before or since have so many troops from so many nations landed to liberate and occupied -- an occupied country. the british, american, cadian, and french troops landed on five beaches. as the airborne troops dropped the hind enemy lines to secure

the roads and bridges. 156,000 troops overwhelming the germans they had taken by surprise. the main event this afternoon was at omaha beach. heads of state stood alongside the veterans to pay tribute and remember. more on that in a ment. but first, our correspondent takes a look at all of the days events inhe company of some of the british veterans who were there to see it. >> memories fade. the living testimonies dwindle. but at dawn today on the beaches of normandy, they remembered. making their own 80th anniversary normandy landing. a group of royal marines waiting ashore as those before them had done in 1944. but these are now peaceful waters thanks to the sacrifices made on d-day.

>> this is it, they are on the beach. >> if you truly understood the onslaught they had faced, young men thrust into the brutality of war. 80 years on, those who survived and grew old honored lost friends. >> it is all because of the quick thinking, desire to help ose around him that i could stand before you today. i wish i could tell him i have never taken his sacrifice for granted. i will always remember him and our friends. so thank you, my old friend. >> a tribute from the one who made it home. at the british normandy memorial, the service of commemoration put the veterans nterstage. relegated to the back rows, the

king and queen and president macron. watching the service was joe mines. he landed on the beaches on d-day. 80 years have passed, but he never returned until now. the actor martin freeman read his words. >> why what i come back? this is the last and only opportunity for me. the last there will ever be. i want pay my respects to those who did not make it. may they rest in peace. >> honoring those who fought in the name of his grandfather, the king spoke of remembrance has an obligation. >> let us commit to carrying forward their resounding message of courage and resilience in the

pursuit of freedom tempered by the duty of responsibilities to others for all of the benefit of younger generations, our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal. >> a final flourish from the red arrows as the service ended. the veterans were then taken to a reception. some with a bit of prime ministerial assistance. it was a day of cross party support as they spent time with the labor leader. it was with the king and queen with whom they seemed to share the most. it was intimate and emotional knowing this small group of veterans is unlikely to be ba here for a major commemoration. their stories have been told. it is down to us to make sure they are not forgotten. daniella ralph, bbc news in normandy.

>> u.s. president joe biden said the war in ukraine echoed the same fight for freedom on the beaches in normandy during world war ii. he was joined by world leaders, including president volodymyr zelenskyy and an international event this afternoon. >> the proud anthem of the french resistance sung in normandy by students who could be the great, even great grandchildren of those who fought and died here for freedom. at this international ceremony, heads of state and government representatives of europe's royal families stood shoulder to shoulder. hearts full of gratitude. >> they were afraid, but they knew that they were fighting a just war. and that every step they took brought them closer to restoring

freedom to the world. >> but a new war in europe hung heavy over today's commemorations. you will notice one conspicuous absence among leaders. russia was crucial in the defeat of nazi germany. ukraine's president was here, but vladimir putin was alert. this is the u.s. military cemetery in normandy. final resting place for well over 9400 u.s. soldiers. earlier today, joe biden made it clear why russia's president was not welcome. >> the bullies who bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable. were we to do that, it means we

would be forgetting what happened at these hallowed beaches. >> u.s. veterans were presented by president macron with the highest honor of france. modern-day geopolitics loom really large over these d-day commemorations. what the world leaders gathered here do not mean any disrespect. the valiant veterans who managed to come here to normandy know all too well the dangers of aggressive nationalism and the politics of hate. the freedom and peace that they fought so hard for his fracturing. normandy resident danielle was five years old on d-day. her village amongst the first to be liberated. >> i went to sleep and woke up with the americans. >> her mom made her a star-spangled dress out of parachutes found in a field. she became a symbol in pigtails

of their everlasting gratitude. >> if it hadn't been for the americans, what would have become of us. >> since the second world war, europe has relied on the u.s. to have its back in terms of security. these bre men helped forge the transatlantic alliance. their president said it was stronger than ever. but with u.s. elections around the corner, europe knows it cannot take anything for granted. >> a short time ago, kathy sent us her final thoughts on the day from the beaches in normandy. >> d-day was an absolute turning point. all of those young soldiers pouring out onto those beaches. i've been here all week talking to veterans. the youngest of them now are in their 90's. they still have crystal clear memories of that morning. how cold they were, how seasick they felt coming onto the

beaches, and how nervous they were about the enormity of what laid before them. their humility is also really touching. i spoke to one veteran 99 years old who said i'm glad we could help, that makes me feel good. in villages up and down the coast, they are surrounded by adoration by the locals. 20,000 people, civilians died in normandy during the battle for normandy. it is felt particularly strongly. it from all over europe and all of the heads of states, heads of government and representatives of royal families from across europe at the international commemoration today as well. thinking back to the past, saying a big thank you to those who bravely fought for freedom and clearly also worried about the new war that rages in europe. >> plenty more to come on the d-day commemorations. you are watching bbc taking a

look at some of the other stories making news. the u.k. health security agency says an tbreak of e. coli is thought to be linked to food is repeated nationally. 113 cases reported since the 25th of may. the u.k. chess a said in england, at least 37 people had been admitted to hospital. police say a body was discovered on thursday morning near the river sore. search had been launched to find -- after they received reports the child who was with family members fell into the water on the 18th of february. >> british scientists have identified a major cause of inflammatory bowel disease which they say could help find new ways to treat the condition. the researchers found a weak spot in our dna present in almost everyone that is affected by the disease.

aside from the events taking place in normandy, there were other services of remembrance in the u.k., one at the national memorial arboretum. our correspondent was there. >> it is the place set aside for national reflection. where the country gathers to remember. today, it was where veterans and families came to honor the fallen, recognize service, and pay homage to sacrifice. >> they are going down in the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. >> no tally of passing decades can erase the dramas of d-day.

some of the veterans comforted instead by senior members of the royal family. the service ended with a flypast, soaring above the gathering of those reflecting below. tonight, the final acts of remembrance are moving to britain's villages and towns, places like hound in hampshire symbolizing the day by lighting beacons. in fact, more than 800 of the beacons will be lit tonight at 9:50. one final nationwide expression of hope and peace. the embers of fires drawing down on a day recalling loss, bravery, and accomplishment. duncan kennedy, bbc news. >> there were 14,000 canadians who landed at juno beach on june 6, 1944. of those, 300 59 died in the

initial assault. prime minister justin trudeau was there to listen to the stories of those who survived. but it is a dwindling band of heroes. that fact was underscored painfully by the passing of navy veteran bill cameron, who was due to travel this weekend with the canada delegation. he died on friday, the day before he was set to board a plane in vancouver. he was 100 years old. bill was an antiaircraft gunner on a corvette that escorted the american barges during the d-day landings in the battle of normandy. the canadian prime minister made sure bill was remembered during the ceremony. wax to able seaman bill cameron, who sadly passed away just last weekend. i spoke with her a few days ago, his daughter told me how much he had been looking forward to being here with all of you.

his bags had been packed for weeks. and he was so proud to be coming back to normandy. so for him, and for all of the veterans, i can promise you canada and the world will keep commemorating this significant day for decades and generations to come. >> justin trudeau speaking today in normandy. i'm pleased to say brian cameron -- his elder son, is with us. thank you for being on the program. i'm sorry for your loss. it must be a difficult day for you and your family. >> it certainly is. my dad was a fighter until the end. he was really ready to take the trip. this wasn't meant to be. but he was ready. he talked so much about taking

this next journey. he had been there twice before. it was something he was looking forward to. >> taking a step back from d-day. where had your dad come from and how long had he been in england before the order was given? >> he ended up there about six or eight weeks before hand. he was training in the east coast canada over newfoundland and came over at that time. >> what did he tell you about how the day unfolded? >> it unfolded many times, cold, dark, scary. said many times i was scared to death, but it was near them. i had to do what i had to do. that was similar to virtually all of them that day. it was a mission, they had to achieve what they had to achieve. could not look back >> did he tell you about the friends he lost? >> yes.

i spent -- 10 years ago i went to normandy with him and my sister went five years ago. we met a lot of the guys. they became good friends of ours. just a lot of memories, a lot of stories. incredib stories. i sat on the bus with these guys. you can talk to them for hours. it was amazing. >> i reported on the d-day landings before. all of the efforts of those boys who landed on the beaches to get onto the cliffs was extraordinary. but i know that you know was one of the hardest. and the canadians did it with -- so quick, they had to wait. they had to pause for the rest to catch up with them. >> yes. my dad was attached to the

american flotilla at omaha. it was the only canadian vessel that was in and out using the corvette that they had. the only corvette that went in and out of omaha. in a number of interviews he referred to it as a terrible beach. almost impossible climb up the mountain. it was very difficult. >> the thing i remember going out onto the sands and staring at the cliffs is thinking what they must have faced. you get a sense of that. when you go stand on the beach, you get some sense of the enormity of what they are facing. >> on the trip i took, there was a fellow with us from the winnipeg rifles. we stood up on the beach, and he said you see that mound about 150 yards of the beach, that is as far as we had gone on the

first day. just gravitating. >> was at the end of his war or did he go on to serve in other areas and in other battles? >> he did not, he came back and was out of the military and had a successful business career in life. it was always a big part of his life. it was huge. >> i think you had family there. in spite of the fact that bill passed on friday. what have they told you about the day and the memories people shared of him? >> my nephew and his wife attended. my sisters who were coming, they could not make it because they were all packed to go and other things to do. i had not talked to craig yet. i have seen pictures of him on the beach and whatnot. i'm sure it was a very momentous day for both of them.

and we are proud of them to represent us. >> absolutely. special to hear the prime minister so speak -- speak so lovingly of your father. >> if there were events that made me -- 1:30 phoenix time this morning, i wahed everything. to me, there were very special moments. one was when the prime minister spoke of my dad. i also thought when the other prime minister spoke and talked about his age group and people of that age group needing to remember and making sure the remembrance carried on. it was amazing. i thought it was a beautiful event. >> as kathy s saying earlier in the program, the war in europe which has returned, hangs heavy over the commemorations in normandy. what would you want to say about that? how would your father view that in some of the debate there has been about funding ukraine,

sending weapons to ukraine? did he have strong feelings? >> yes he did. at the end of the day, the ukraine situation is almost a travesty. world war ii was -- the whole world was impacted by that. we were impacted by the ukraine event similarly. more determination needs to be placed upon resolving it. that was his point. this is atrocious. >> and for those watching, what would you want to say to them about your dad and how you would want him to be remembered? >> he was an amazing guy. he was my best friend. we shared so much together. he was very cognitive until the end of his life. it was not like he was unable to

develop communication skills. his physical demeanor was a little bit low. but he was a fighter, he was a winner, a supporter. he was kind. he had a heart but he had a mission. everything he did in his life. he was my mentor. i'm no spring chicken. i always asked him for advice, even at that age. he was one of those guys that are extremely rare. i was fortunate to have him as a father. i think my sisters would say the same. he taught us a lot about resilience, and don't give up, and all of the things that basically formed through his time in e navy. where you did not have a choice. you had to go forward. that simple. >> we all owe him a debt of gratitude. and we are sorry for his

passing. thank you for coming on the program. >> think you for having me. i appreciate it. >> brian cameron. his father passed on friday and was not able to make the commemorations. we want to focus on some of the pictures from this very special day. let me show you some of the pictures of the new britis memorial. ♪ >> our gratitude is unfailing. and our admiration eternal. >> one of the things you may not know about the memorial is it poses existence in greater part to the initiative of our former correspondent nicholas winchell, who in 2014 while reporting in london met the late d-day

veteran george batts. a year later, george got in touch with him to point out that the u.k. alone among the allied nations did not have its own d-day or memorial near the landing beaches. it set up a normandie memorial trust, bringing together the people who could help realize his dream that eluded him and other normative veterans. so it is nice to see it played such a prominent role in today's commemoration. tribute to nick and the work he put into that as well. i was just saying to the team, i have my own memories of being there 10 years ago. two memors that stand out. one, it was the last day visit of the late queen. you will see in these pictures barack obama was there, but also president vladimir putin in the company of the then french president. they had made a bit oa -- invited them the day before to

the palace. it was a bit of a french farce. because he then had to have two dinners. so neither of them felt snubbed. but the extraordinary thing about the whole day was -- i had been at investiture with the queen at the british embassy in paris. she was already in normandy at 8:00 the next day to mark the day with the veterans speaking to each and every one of them. she was 88 years old. it was a searing day. in the evening i was lucky enough to be at the state dinner that the ambassador invited me to. there she was in her finery until 11:30 in the evening. still shaking hands, still meeting people. the sort of service we remember, of course, from our late queen. and which was fulfilled today by the king announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by...

financial services firm, raymond james. cunard is a proud supporter of public television. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: get the free pbs app now and stream the best of pbs.

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