the french are reminded of that history everywhere they turn in normandy.here are life-like displays, monuments with messages of freedom along with pictures, symbols, and tributes to the fallen. >> i think it's great they've doing it, and i think they should do it forever. >> reporter: 93-year-old melvin bushman says this will likely be his last trip to normandy and his last chance to pass along stories from the deadliest war in history. leaders from all around the world are here including britain's queen elizabeth. she will pay her respects to the allied forces who died on d-day. anne-marie? >> jericka duncan in colleville, france. thank you very much, jericka. >>> the veterans affairs department says an additional 18 veterans in the phoenix area whose names were kept off falsified appointment lists have died. the v.a. says more than 100,000 vets had to wait more than 90 days for an appointment. two senior senators agreed on a proposal to expand veterans' health care. it would allow veterans who live at least 40 miles from a v.a. medical facility or who wa

inether with a rat, the -- normandy, over 5000 paratroopers were killed or wounded. >> speaking in normandy earlier on today, the french president the courage of the german people, who he said were .lso victims of nazis he said they were led into a war which was never theirs, which should never have been there'ir. tell us just what germany's role was in those commemorations today in normandy. >> of course, the presence of a german chancellor at such a landmark d-day commemoration is hugely symbolic. symbolic of the progress europe has made since the end of the second world war and the reconciliation that has been achieved. attendance 10 years ago was seen as a hugely important message to germany just back then, a message that it was once again the scene as a trusted and respected nation again with europe, and that still resonates again today with the presidents -- the presence of angela merkel attending the ceremony today in normandy. alongside angela merkel, read german second world war veterans were also invited to attend, and their stories really act as a reminder to us that many of horr

normandy, this was democracy's beachhead. our victory in that war decided not just a century, but shaped the security and well-being of all posterity. we worked to turn old adversaries into new allies, we built new prosperity, we stood with the people of this continent for a long struggle until finally, a wall tumbled down and an iron curtain, too. and from south america to southeast asia, 70 years of democratic movement spread. nations that once knew only the blinders of fear begin to taste freedom. none of that would have happened without the men who were willing to lay down their lives for people they had never met and ideals they could not live without. none of it would have happened without the troops president roosevelt called the lifeblood of america, the hope of the world. barely more than boys at home, who returned home heroes. but to their great credit, that is not how this -- [no audio] after the war, some put away their medals. they were quiet about their service, moved on. some, carrying shrapnel and scars, found

they were part of the allies as they pushed towards normandy. president obama met with vladimir putin, and they spoke for 10-15 minutes, a substantial period of time. we are waiting. also vladimir putin met with the president of ukraine. there was a short meeting. a photo op with angela merkel, the german leader in attendance. they had a sideline meeting and spoke for 10-15 minutes. reuters reported, quoting a french official that they talked about a ceasefire in ukraine, and the necessity of a recognition of the election of petro porashenko, the new president of ukraine. that has not been confirmed independently by the russians by this point. that was a reuters report quoting a french official. the french foreign ministry says that the meeting took place in the last 10-15 minutes. they had time to look at the substance. >> we are looking at what amounts to a dance on the gint map. the french -- giant map. the french have their own way of marking the event. behind them is a movie in coordination, and it's a picture of the auschwitz. let's listen

and sunday, he'll parachute into normandy."i became part of a family of real american heroes," he said. "the paratroopers of the 82nd." wilson, you should know that specialist jannise rodriguez joined the army not even two years ago, was assigned to the 101st airborne, and just last month earned the title of the 101st airborne division air assault soldier of the year. and that's inspiring but not surprising, when the women of today's military have taken on responsibilities, including combat, like never before. [applause] i want each of you to know that their commitment to their fellow servicemembers and veterans endures. sergeant first class brian hawthorne's grandfather served under general patton and general macarthur. brian himself served two tours in iraq, earned the bronze star in baghdad for saving the life of his best friend, and today, he and his wife use their experience to help other veterans and military families navigate theirs. and brian is here in normandy to participate in sunday's jump, and here, just yesterday

back now to the live pictures coming to us from normandy.the french president is welcoming foreign heads of state . at which he will be hosting the visiting heads of state. no fewer than 18 made the trip to france for the 70th commemoration of the d-day landing. for many of the 1800 veterans that made the trip, probably one of the last events they will attend that remembers their extraordinary contribution to everything barack obama speech.d in his francois hollande earlier today annesd off proceedings in c where he laid a wreath at the memorial and paid particular tribute to the civilian populations that suffered so during the d-day landing. quickly on these pictures coming to us, you see the heads of state. all eyes very much on this man, vladimir putin, as he arrives for this lunch. met for the first time since the start of the ukrainian crisis with david cameron, angela merkel, and francois hollande. lunch, we expect him to come face-to-face for the first time with barack obama tensions arose between east and west over russia's annexatio

cemetery in normandy. >> our veterans.e made of sound, the skies over england that night would have deafened the world. captains paced their decks. ilots tapped their gauges. commanders pored over maps. fully aware that for all the months of metic louse planning, everything could go wrong. the winds, the tides, the element of surprise. and above all, the audacious bet that what waited on the other side of the channel would compel men not to shrink away, but to charge ahead. fresh-faced g.i.'s rubbed trinkets, kissed pictures of sweethearts, checked and rechecked their equipment. -- asked one, give me guts. and in the predawn hours, planes rumbled down runways. paratroopers slipped through the sky. giant screws began to turn on an armada that looked more like ships than sea. nd more than 150,000 souls set off towards this tiny sliver of sand upon which hung more than the fate of a war. but rather the course of human history. president hollande, distinguished guests, i am honored to return here to pay tribute to the men and

and sunday, he'll parachute into normandy. "i became part of a family of real american heroes," he said. "the paratroopers of the 82nd." wilson, you should know that specialist jannise rodriguez joined the army not even two years ago, was assigned to the 101st airborne, and just last month earned the title of the 101st airborne division air assault soldier of the year. and that's inspiring but not surprising, when the women of today's military have taken on responsibilities, including combat, like never before. [applause] i want each of you to know that their commitment to their fellow servicemembers and veterans endures. sergeant first class brian hawthorne's grandfather served under general patton and general macarthur. brian himself served two tours in iraq, earned the bronze star in baghdad for saving the life of his best friend, and today, he and his wife use their experience to help other veterans and military families navigate theirs. and brian is here in normandy to participate in sunday's jump, and here, just yesterda

he described normandy as democracy's beachhead. he had stories of american personnel from recent wars, afghanistan and iraq. he made the wider points about the spread of democracy around the world. >> you are referring to there what he called dem crass si's beachhead, at this moment didn't arrive out a few week of quick thinking. it was an uncredibly long-term planned event of any the logistics, the effort that went into this. >> you are right. obviously the focus of the attention on the moment is on that narrow moment, where people are to -- had to claw their way to shore. the problem was to be able to build up the allied forces, before the germans could bring in reinforcements. the allies had significant command of the skies. it was an extraordinary difficult operation. the artificial har bors that were built piece by piece. the pipelines, the fuel that was toed across the channel. the fact that they were able to build up their forces at such a rate with huge losses and materiel, nonetheless, they were able to win that. german wa

tributes, norman did normandy,s later. guns and taxes, why some people are nervous. >> the brazil experience, people living if a place where they don't want to you see. >> and yemen, happy. the video and life in one of the poorest countries in the middle east. we begin tonight with an unexpected meeting. it happened during the 70th anniversary of d day in normandy, france. two presidents, vladimir putin and barack obama met face to face for the first time since the ukraine crisis. the meeting was short. mike viqueria has the story. >> president obama down played the meeting with vladimir putin. speaking 15 minutes with the russian leader after all. a behind the scenes discussion caught on video. ukraine was among the topics. putin also spoke with petro poroshenko, the man due to be sworn in as ukraine's president, on saturday, a meeting brokered by angela merkel. ceasinceasing efforts to involve ukraine. a day of solemn ceremony and commemoration. mr. obama began the day withen frooblewith francois hollande. paid tribute t

reporting tonight from normandy. >>> good evening. when they were young on a terrible day 70 years ago today, they dropped into the woods in parachutes, flew overhead in war planes and wave after wave on the beach with machine gun and artillery fire raining down on them from above. it was an enormous gamble. they paid under 10,000 souls rest in eternal peace behind us, some of them, right where they died. yet their efforts turned the tide in the war and helped to save the world. it was a beautiful day here today. made more beautiful by how many of them made it back one more trip to normandy for the men who already took it once. years ago, tom brokaw gave a bunch of them the perfect title, the greatest generation. here today tom was back as well to witness this 70th reunion. ♪ >> reporter: this is why we're here. here above the beaches of normandy just beyond the water that brought liberty at a great sacrifice. for those who survived that day and for so many others, this is a journey of honor and remembrance to honor their fallen frien

good night from normandy.ou meet or when it occurs, sometimes you have that pregame edge. cole hamels arrived on the scene and did so here in the queen city. 2,947 days since his major league debut, the cincinnati reds are yet to solve him. 11 starts and just over eight years later, they get another chance on the same fields.

they are happening all around normandy.he french president is expected to join the service any moment now. he is just one of a number of world leaders who will be here. the british prime minister, the president of the united states, the chancellor of germany, the president of russia, the president-elect of ukraine. they are joining veterans to talk turkey when it comes to ukraine. those discussions began in brussels with the g7 minus russia, but continued into the evening with russia. the russian president meeting with the british prime minister and president hollande as they try to find some way to engage russia for de-escalation in ukraine. >> live pictures of francois hollande normandy. historical conflict and a current conflict very much in progress. any progress that we are seeing? >> progress would be if there was no fighting. the fighting continues in the east of ukraine. yesterday when president hollande met with president obama, while they have their squabble about the french sale of warships to russia and bnp pari

and mark phillips with leslie cruise returning to normandy for one final mission. captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley. >> dubois: good evening. scott is off tonight. i'm maurice dubois, and this is our western edition. general motors today put out the results of its internal investigation into the ignition switch defect linked to at least 13 deaths and why it took a decade to issue a recall. the report blames a failure to share information and take action, but says there was no cover-up. c.e.o. mary barra will keep her job, but 15 other g.m. employees have been fired and five others disciplined. g.m. said it will set up a compensation fund for crash victims, and it pledged to make institutional changes in the corporation. jeff glor has our report. >> let me be clear-- this should have never happened. it is unacceptable. >> reporter: in a speech streamed to g.m. employees around the world, c.e.o. mary barra said today there was no conspiracy, just incompetence and neglect. >> this report is extremely thorough, brutally tough,

d-day was the beginning of the battle for normandy. it was almost three months before the allies were able to break through the german lines, but on june 6th alone, troops took part in the invasion, and of that number 73,000 were americans. 2500 of them were americans. s who died. many of them are buried just inland of omaha beach. and mike viqueira is there. >> just about under 10,000 of them -- i'm sorry, stephanie, and we were talking about numbers with dana, and you were talking about veterans. just under 10,000 americans died here in the -- on d-day 70 years ago today. and in the ensuing weeks in normandy. they are buried here behind me. i don't know if you've ever been here, and for anybody that hasn't, it's a moving trip. today, a picture of tranquility as president obama and president hole an delivered marks to a massive assembled crowd. they were you have all ages, young and old and in particular the veterans that you were just talking about. if this invasion happened 70 years ago, in this age of cynicism we had, it would not

eastern time june 6, the invasion of normandy was officially announced.ead, factory whistles blew, church bells rang, spontaneous gatherings took place, and throughout the day, churches and synagogues swelled as people took to me in prayer. that evening, the president went on the air. the white house had earlier distributed his prayer in order that the audience could pray alongside their commander in chief. an estimated 100,000 people did so. if you will excuse the lack of victorian accent, allow me to repeat those words. "my fellow americans, last night, when i spoke with you about the fall of rome, i knew at that moment that troops of the united states and our allies were crossing the channel in another and greater operation. it has come to pass with success thus far. and so, in this poignant hour, i ask you to join with me in prayer, almighty god, our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. lead them straight and t

in 1984 he became first commander in chief to visit normandy.by army rangers who scaled the cliffs behind him he set the tone for presidents to follow with the most memorable speech ever delivered on these sacred grounds. >> we stand on a lonely wind swept point on the northern shore of france. the air is soft but 40 years ago at this moment the air was dense with smoke and cries of men and air filled with a crack of rifle fire and roar of cannon. this is the first power plant in the country to combine solar and natural gas at the same location. during the day, we generate as much electricity as we can using solar. at night and when it's cloudy, we use more natural gas. this ensures we can produce clean electricity whenever our customers need it. ♪ the numbers are impressive. over 400,000 new private sector jobs... making new york state number two in the nation in new private sector job creation... with 10 regional development strategies to fit your business needs. and now it's even better because they've introduced startup new york... with the

in normandy. it's just landing. president obama arriving for the 70th anniversary of the d-day landings which of course liberated -- started the liberation of western france from nazi occupation. we'll have more on this throughout the show. it's also the last time that many veterans associations will be attending such events as well in normandy. so it really is an occasion. >>> but first let's remind you where we stand with european equities an hour and two minutes into the trading day. weighted to the upside around. 6-4, advancers currently outpacing decliners. the ftse 100 actually ended down by the end of the session. not by much, just off five points. the rest of european equities were up. the dax post the ecb closing up 0.2%. the cac current was not looking too badly yesterday, up about a percent. this morning down. the ftse mib, we saw a fall in the yields. yesterday it was up well off 1.5% as well. let's show you where we stand. the nikkei fairly flat. shanghai composite off 0.5%. in india, the sensex up a pe

she will be meeting him and normandy ahead of the normandy commemorations. she will be trying to persuade him, of course, to accept the g7 demands. she on the other hand will also be quite welcoming towards him and that she has said that she does not support the sanctions that president obama is calling for unless talks fail. >> one more question before we go -- where does it go from now after these talks? could we see a conference at some point? >> i think this is only the first step perhaps towards a diplomatic solution, but it is an important one. russia is already showingpmovem. ambassador will be sent back to kiev, and president putin has announced he would be attending the swearing-in of president designate poroshenko. >> thanks for those updates. the g7 leaders will tomorrow be moving on to normandy, as we have been discussing, on the west coast of france, where they will be taking part in ceremonies to mark the d-day arrival. >> many nations were involved in the invasion that signaled the beginning of the end of nazi germany. we'll be broadcasting th

a lot of money went into preparations at normandy.allies worked very hard to keep that a secret, where the landing would be. the defenses at calais were much stronger than at normandy, but a were much stronger compared to sicily. sicily was a matter of logistics. getting the men as sure and keeping them supplied. they did not have to seize the beach in the same jerk only in way as at norman -- for in way as at normandy. in amphibious force protected the divisions that landed in sicily. it was a large force. seven divisions went ashore in sicily and five divisions on d-day, so technically you could argue it was a larger force that went ashore, but on different parts of the sicilian coast. but there the problem was, as i say, a logistical one. it was getting them ashore, keeping their reforms that's -- reinforcements, maintaining supplies rather than grappling waterse enemy at the edge and seizing the beachfront the way it had to be done in normandy. and the size of the fleet. you can see the photograph on the screen now. it's almost un

the ceremonies this morning on omaha beach in normandy. reporter: a woman died in an early-morning house fire. firefighters still trying to figure out what caused it. we have a live report from the scene up next. ,, bulldog: [yawning] it's finally morning! i can't wait to get to mattress discounters because the tempur-pedic bonus event is ending soon. i'll have first pick from the huge selection of tempur-pedic mattresses. then, i'll get to choose $300 in pillows, sheets, and other free gifts. on top of that, up to 48 months interest-free financing. it's a beautiful day for mattress discounters' tempur-pedic bonus event. mmm, some alarm clock you turned out to be. ♪ mattress discounters take the nestea plunge. nothing refreshes like nestea. anniversary of the d-day in is >>> five things to know at the :55. president obama is in normandy, france marking the 70th anniversary of the d-day invasion. the president is taking part in two ceremonies including one at omaha beach where the fiercest fighting occurred. >>> some quick thinking students

>> on our broadcast tonight from normandy, life or death. the plot thickens over the prisoner swap for an american soldier that sparked such an uproar and tonight, a new story line has emerged about why congress was kept in the dark. >>> history of failures. a devastating report out tonight with gm and major executives are out, as well. >>> manhunt, a city on lockdown as a man takes aim at police officers. tonight tens of thousands are being told to stay inside. >>> and the greatest generation, the reason we're here tonight along with the man who coined the phrase as the world prepares to remember d-day, and american veterans make one more trip to the east shores. "nightly news" begins now. >> this is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams reporting tonight from normandy. >>> and good evening from the u.s. military cemetery here on the bluffs above omaha beach on the coastline of france. sacred ground, the resting place of 10,000 souls, 70 years ago tonight, u.s. paratroopers were beginning the mission to drop into the french countryside, fo

from dw live here in berlin. 70 years on, veterans and politicians mark d-day on the beaches of normandy. >> during those commemorations, the russian president talked in person with western leaders about ukraine for the first time. >> a leading afghan presidential candidates arrives an assassination attempt in kabul -- survives an assassination attempt in kabul. the 70th anniversary of the invasion that turned the tides of world war ii has been commemorated by world leaders on the beaches of normandy. >> the d-day invasion opened up a second western front to take pressure off soviet armies closing in on the heart of the german rice from the east -- the german reich from the east. >> here's a look at some of the days events. >> the ceremony was the highlight of many events to mark normandy beach landing. many veterans were in attendance. chancellor merkel among them. french president franÇois hamman paid an emotional tribute to veterans in his opening speech -- french president franÇois hollande. >> thank you for having been here on the sixth of june, 19 44. thank you for being here today

rice was among the first american troops to set foot in norm normandy. the day continues to shape his life. >> and from wttw in chicago, d-day veteran charles thomas recalls those first moments approaching the beach. >> i didn't take time enough to pray. >> charles thomas was only 20 years old and thousands of miles away from his home in chicago when he took part in the most audacious military invasion in world history. >> it was rough. i wouldn't say exciting. trying to stay alive was the main job i had myself. >> clarls thharles thomas was a of the division which on june 6 was among the first allied forces to land in normandy. only a year before, thomas was a recent high school grad living in chicago and he enlisted in the summer of 1943 and less than a year later, he was making a historic 100 mile crossing of the english channel. >> we were 12 miles out from the beach when they let us go. a long ride in the rough water. two hours sleep probably. sea sick. we all got sea sick. we had bags to throw up in. paper bags to throw over the side. but you hit t

soldiers stormed the beaches at normandy. stories and others honored at the memorial in washington, d.c. and this memorial you see in normandy, france. former presidential candidate and world war ii veteran bob dole writes this reflection today. what i during my frequent visits to the national world war ii memorial i hear a refrain the most important lesson of the war. we can not become complacent. we must remain strong and vigilant. the timing of the d-day anniversary causes us all to reflect on the then and the now and to do that with us, retired major general bob scales, fox news military analyst. phd as well in history which makes us even better to talk to today. general, of course your father served in world war ii. you say you were personally inspired by world war ii and what transpired on d-day, particularly. why so? >> well, you know, i was, i was born about the time of d-day and my dad was a colonel. came up through the ranks and he would sit around at the officers club for hour after hour talking to his buddies, tal

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plus much more from today's ceremonies in normandy.e to you a man who fought the d-day invasion all because he lied about his age so he could serve his country. you're watching "morning joe." ♪ ♪ make every day, her day with a full menu of appetizers and entrées crafted with care and designed to delight. fancy feast. love served daily. stick with innovation. stick with power. stick with technology. get the flexcare platinum from philips sonicare and save now. philips sonicare ♪ >>> soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied expeditionary force, you are about it to embark upon the great crusade. the eyes of the world are upon you, the hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you in company with our brave allies you will bring about the destruction of the german war machine. the elimination of nazi teyrann over europe and security for ourselves in a free world. your task will not be an easy o one. your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. he will fight savagely. the tide has turned. the free m

jericka duncan, cbs news, normandy. >> many veterans said this would be their last trip to normandy butaniel still plays tennis, softball and golf says he will be back again. >>> and the horseracing world looking for a first in decades. we'll take you to belmont for the final workout of california chrome. >> a lost love back where she belongs. how one man did the right thing making a dog and her owner very happy. >> reporter: good afternoon, roberta gonzales live in st. helena. i'm outside charles krug the oldest commercial winery in napa valley. we have all the fun as the news continues right here on kpix 5. territory... right now it's up ..... the may jobs report is helpg >>> the dow is back in record territory. it's up 77. >>> the may jobs report is helping fuel the rally. employers added more than 200,000 jobs last month while the unemployment rate remains at 6.3%. it's the fourth straight monthly gain. >>> time is running out for a pricy lunch opportunity. bidding ends tonight for a chance to break bread with investor warren buffett. the charity auction benefits glide in san franci

and sunday, he'll parachute into normandy. i became part of a family of real american heroes, he said, the par troopers of the 82nd. wilson, you should know that specialist janice rodriguez joined the army not only two years ago, was assigned to the 101st airborne and just last month earned the title of the 101st airborne division air assault soldier of the year, and that's inspiring but not surprising when the women of today's military have taken on responsibilities, including combat like never before. i want each of you to know that their commitment to their fellow service members and veterans endures. sergeant first class's grandfather served under general mcclelland and macarthur. he saved the life of his best friend and today he and his wife use their experience to help other veterans and military families navigate theirs. brian's here at normandy to participate in sunday's jump. and here just yesterday, he re-enlisted in the army reserve. and this generation, this 9/11 generation of service members, they, too, felt somet

heads of state gathered in france to pay tribute to the normandy invasion. more than 160,000 american, british and canadian troops took part in the operation and thousands died fighting nazi germany that day. in the process, they helped bring peace and unity to europe and changed the course of history. here to discuss the historical significance of d-day, joining us from washington, d.c., professor, thank you for being with us. neptune, the code name for operation overlord. give us an idea of the scale of the d-day landings. >> the amphibious landing was the largest military operation in the history of western armies. 5,000 to 6,000 ships, depending whether you count the small landing craft, hundreds of thousands of men, thousands of aircraft, it's a scale almost unimaginable. >> how were the allies able to pull off an operation this monumental and high risk in the end? >> well, of course, planning. it had been in the works for years as the britains and americans argued back and forth particularly about the timing of the invasion and gathering the resources

bret. >> ed henry live early saturday morning in normandy. an amazing day. >>> new reaction tonight to last night's fox exclusive on what happened to sergeant bowe bergdahl during his time enemy captivity. chief washington correspondent james rosen broke the story. he has new information tonight and reports the american soldier is said to be making progress physically. >> reporter: military positions at langstuhl regional medical center in germany said the former prisoner is improving daily. sergeant bergdahl is receiving more complete medical exams, the hospital said in an statement. an inherent and critical part of the reib at this grags process is a decompression period that has been established to mawxs return health and welfare. >> they did not factually challenge documents produced by fox news on early in the week. the firms highly detained report named the commanders who held bergdahl. document his escape in 2010 and his imprisonment in a metal cell. >> i see no evidence to support the notion that are outlined in those private company'

d-day celebrations just about to commence and normandy.rench president to kickoff the ceremony. the president of france, just one of a number of world leaders here in normandy today using the 70th anniversary of d-day to find a way to end the war in ukraine. guy. >> ryan, thank you very much indeed. that is what we are watching around europe. busy day. we have european markets just about to open. we are in between draghi and payroll. trying to figure out the

and they invaded the normandy coast 70 years ago today. for the next hour and a half year on the washington journal, we are going to be live from the world war ii memorial on the mall in washington dc we want to get your calls. we want to talk about d-day, the importance of d-day, world war ii, and we are going to set aside our third line for those million plus world war ii veterans who are still alive and those of you who remember world war ii. here are the numbers. remember d war ii. here are the numbers. we want to hear from you for the next hour and half. go ahead and start dialing in. right before the invasion, the supreme leader, general dwight eisenhower spoke to the troops. here is audio of that speech. >> soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied expeditionary force. au are about to embark upon great crusade toward which we have stood in these many months. the eyes of the world are upon you. the hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. in company with our brave allies and brothers in arms on other fro

it is a brilliant day here in normandy. for a los of folks and americans across the generations a little younger, the point of reference for all of this is the first 20 minutes of saving private ryan and the scenes there, the appalling scenes there, and some of us over a certain age the compelling point of reference is ronald reagan's address in 1984 and sort of turned that into a morality play about the soviet union and the role that the role that the soviet union played and the sacrifices that the russian people had made. president obama appeared here today at the 70th anniversary. his second time here. he was here five years ago in 2009 and talked about the sacrifices that many had made and what is interesting about president obama, when he talks in personal tones about his personal family history, that's when he becomes the most notable moments in his speeches and talked about his grandfather and flying in and marine one coming down the coast and seeing the english channel behind me and coming in over a tremendous crowd

normandy, this was democracy's beachhead. and our victory in that war decided not just a century but shaped the security and well-being of all posterity. we worked to turn old adversaries into new allies, we built new prosperity, we stood once more with the people of this continent through a long twilight struggle until finally a wall tumbled down and an iron curtain too, and from western europe to east, from south america to southeast asia, 70 years of democratic movements spread. and nations that once knew only the blinders of fear began to taste the blessing of freedom. >> nbc news chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell is in normandy, france. andrea? >> reporter: betty, president obama came here saying that omaha beach, normandy was democracy's beachhead and this group of veterans, the small group of survivors, now 70 years later, saved the world, not only savingvoking a time when men of courage took to the air, the parachutes dropped, the 13,000 paratroopers that went in before dawn and then the thousands wh

invasion, myr the grandfather returned to normandy.t to the american quiet,y, the scene was serene. gazing at the crosses and the stars of david lined up in perfect rows, he said "when i look at these graves, i think of is parents whose only son buried here. because of their sacrifice, they don't have the pleasure of grandchildren. because of their sacrifice, my grandchildren are growing up in freedom." and then he said, "i devoutly hope we will never again have to see such things as these." today, i gathered here say it is our duty for those who gave their lives in the veterans the with us today to keep story of d-day ally for our grandchildren. to imbue in them i hope that together, people from different allies, can our stand together for a common cause. d-day tells us in doing so, we can accomplish more than we ever thought possible. we are indebted to those brave men and women who secured the victory. we must repay them by preparing future generations to be counted on when the moment comes for us to act. thank you very much. [appla

a live look from normandy, france.sident obama speaking at a ceremony commemorating the 70th day of d-day. >> it would have deafened the world. captains tap the deck, pilots tap their gauges, commanders poured over maps only aware that for all of the months of meticulous planning everything could go wrong. the winds, the tied, the element of surprise, and above all the audacious bets that what waited on the other side would compel men not to shrink away but to charge ahead. fresh faced gi's rubbed trinkets kissed pictures of sweet hearts, checked and rechecked their equipment. god asked one, give me guts. in the predawn hours they traveled down the runway, paratroopers split through the sky. giant screws began to turn on an armada that looked more like ships than sea. more than 150,000 souls set off toward this tiny sliver of sand on which hung more the fate of the war but rather the course of human history. president oolong, distinguished guests, i am honored to pay tribute to the men and women of a nation that defied

the french are reminded of that history everywhere they turn in normandy. there are life-like displays, monuments with messages of freedom along with pictures, symbols and tributes to the fallen. >> i think it's great that they are doing it, and i think they are going to do it forever. >> reporter: 93-year-old veteran melvin bushman says this will likely be his last trip to normandy. and his last chance to pass along stories from the deadliest war in history. jericka duncan, cbs news, normandy. >> britain's queen elizabeth and russian president vladimir putin are also among world leaders in normandy today. >>> former owner of the l.a. dodgers scheduled to testify next week in a civil trial. giants fan bryan stow is suing the dodgers and the former owner frank mccourt. stoas badly beaten in the parking lot after the opening day game in 2011. head of security for the dodgers testified he had quit the team prior to the attack because the team had cut the number of uniformed officers at the ballpark. >> i think the jury is beginning to understand the corners th

normandy, this was democracy's beachhead. our victory in that war >> woodruff: of the 16 million americans who survived the war, only a little over a million are still alive. mr. obama said it's important their stories are passed on. >> we are on this earth for only a moment in time. and fewer of us have parents and grandparents to tell us about what the veterans of d-day did here seventy years ago. so we have to tell their stories for them. we have to do our best to uphold in our own lives the values that they were prepared to die for. >> woodruff: french president francois hollande vowed his country will always remember those who sacrificed their lives that day. >> ( translated ): they were your parents, your brothers, your friends. they were our liberators. france will never forget what she owes to these soldiers, what she owes to the united states. >> woodruff: meanwhile, british veterans, politicians and royal family members attended a service of remembrance at bayeux cathedral. it escaped damage during the war, and the

good day from normandy.ck todd with a very special edition and very special coverage of "the daily rundown." today we come to you from france but it's important to note we're on american soil. the normandy american cemetery is the resting place for more than 9,000 americans. many of whom lost their lives on omaha beach right behind me. every d-day anniversary is moving but today's commemoration is especially poignant. the veterans gathered here are in their 90s and fewer and fewer d-day survivors remain to tell their stories. at dawn 160,000 allied troops stormed the beaches, the largest sea-borne invasion in history. it was a turning point in the second world war and frankly in world history. at this hour we have 18 foreign leaders who is gathered at sword beach. this is the eastern most of those five landing sites. this is an international ceremony that's going to be taking place to celebrate the band of brothers who fought here. >> oh my god. i had five bullets that could have killed me any one of them. o

sunday, he will parachute into normandy. iraq andtours in afghanistan, he was reassigned to the 82nd airborne. sunday, he will parachute into normandy. rodriguez janice joined the army two years ago and was assigned to the 101st airborne. the women of today's military have taken on today's responsibilities including combat like never before. [applause] i want each of you to know that their commitment to their fellow service members and veterans endures. sergeant first class brian hawthorne's grandfather served under patton and mccarthy. brian served two tours in iraq, earning the bronze star in baghdad. brian is here to participate in sunday's job. -- jump. he reenlisted in the army reserve just yesterday. 9/11generation, this generation of service members, they too felt something, they answered some call, they said i will go. they too chose to serve a cause that is greater than self. even after they knew they would be sent into harms way. for more than a decade, they have endured tour after tour. served 10.rg has he sat wit

the president joined american veterans in commemorating the anniversary in normandy france. d-day invasion liberated france from nazi germany. president obama and president of the france laid a wreath at american cemetery honoring the sacrifice of more than 150,000 allied troops who stormed the beaches of normandy. >> these men wage wars so that we might know peace, they sacrificed so that we might be free, they for the in hopes of a day when we no longer need to fight. >> more than 9,000 american soldiers, buried at american cemetery in omaha beach, the largest of five beaches allied beaches stormed 70 years ago. >>> well, still to come here at 5:30 tonight we will introduce you to leslie cruz who traveled to normandy all the way from horsham to montgomery county. cruz jumped with the eighty-second airborne behind enemy lines and 70 years later he is completing one final mission. >>> well, coming up on cbs-3 "eyewitness news" tragedy strikes twice for a south jersey familiar willly all in one week, first a fatal car crash, and then a house fire, and police say victims are b

and in normandy, world leaders saluted the american veterans and their allies who fought to liberate europe from germany. >> f-15s roared above the american cemetery in normandy where thousands of veterans lost their lives on d-day. >> all our veterans of d-day, if you can stand, please stand, if not, please raise your hand. let us recognize your service once more. [ applause ] >> these men waged war so we night know peace. they sacrificed so we meet be free! they fought in hopes of a day when we would no longer need to fight! [ applause ] >> we are grateful to them. [ applause ] [ taps ] >> reporter: president obama and french president francois holland laid a wreath to honor the sacrifice of more than 150,000 allied troops when they stormed the beaches of normandy on june 6, 1944. the president hugged veterans and thanked them for their commitment to liberty, equality and freedom. >> that claim is written in the blood on these beaches. and it will endure until the end of time. >> i hope i can help other people understand what we went through. >> reporter: 91-year-old rollly daniel

from normandy, thank you. up next, harry potter is known for his bravery but apparently he can also help to rescue an economy. we are in orlando. after the financial crisis, florida needed an economic boost, and it seems to have founded in harry potter. i will have the details when returns.ine" ♪ >> florida's employment picture has improved faster than any other state insipid crisis. some floridians say that is because harry potter has been working his wizardry in his state. yang yang reports from orlando. >> well done, harry. >> harry potter save the world and some say he may have saved florida from the worst effects of the financial crisis. when u.s. tourism slumped in 2010 along with the rest of the economy, universal orlando resort placed an estimated 255 million dollars bet on the world of harry potter. since then, visits have reached record levels and more tourists mean more jobs. >> the recovery was stronger because not only did harry potter exhibit the need for employees but also new hires that were at

and i think normandy proves that.rom an american point of view, normandy is sort of the beginning of this kind of military and comic and political super power that comes out of world war ii. >> john mcmanus, professor u.s. military professor of u.s. science and technology and author of two books on d day. good to have you with us? >> thank you for having me. >> gun rights activists aren't hiding demands. supporters of open carry laws are out in full force at the state gop convention. john henry has this story from fort worth. >>. >> reporter: pliyn gail believes the answer to gun violence is more guns. >> if somebody sees a pistol on my hip, they are not going to do anything to begin with. we think instead of reacting to crime, it's better to just present it to begin with. >> in bestros and bars across the u.s., americans are carrying guns and unnerving their neighbors. >> here in texas, guns are just part of the cowboy culture but even here, for some, carrying them openly in restaurants and bars is still a little too

the french are reminded of that history everywhere they turn in normandy. there are life-like displays, monuments with messages of freedom along with pictures, symbols and tributes to the fallen. >> i think it's great that they are doing it, and i think they are going to do it forever. >> reporter: 93-year-old veteran melvin bushman says this will likely be his last trip to normandy. and his last chance to pass along stories from the deadliest war in history. jericka duncan, cbs news, normandy. >> britain's queen elizabeth and russian president vladimir putin are also among world leaders in normandy today. >>> the pentagon says bowe bergdahl's health continues to improve. but no date has been set to bring him back to the u.s. where a debate over his release continues. members of congress say the white house is now giving a new explanation for why they didn't get 30 days' notice of a prisoner swap. administration officials say intelligence suggested the taliban would kill bergdahl if the deal became public. some lawmakers are skeptical. >> because obviously