Veterans and dignitaries gathered at York Station today to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
A moving service commemorated the bravery and sacrifice of the Allies who stormed the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944, and played such a major part in ending the war and securing our freedoms.
The very special guest was Joseph Thomas, aged 99, a Royal Navy veteran, who was awarded the Légion d’honneur for his courage.
The Royal British Legion organised the service, held at the York Normandy Veterans Memorial Bench on Platform 3 at the station.
Readings included the poem For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon. Prayers were said and the Last Post played.
Wreaths were laid on the bench, including one by the Sheriff of York, Fiona Fitzpatrick.
Meanwhile, the King and the Prince of Wales have praised the “bravery and sacrifice” of D-Day veterans who “served at that critical time”, on the 80th anniversary of the beach invasion.
Charles addressed an emotional crowd of veterans at the national commemorative event in Ver-sur-Mer in Normandy, France, on Thursday as he spoke of his “profound sense of gratitude” to those who served in 1944.
At the Canadian commemorative ceremony on Juno Beach, William thanked those who served “for our freedom”, adding: “All of you demonstrated heroism, and determination, that ensured fascism was conquered.”