Six hundred parachutes drop to start D-Day ceremonies

More than 600 US and French troops started the 60th anniversary of D-Day landings on Saturday afternoon by parachuting into the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, a symbol of the liberation on June 6, 1944 in Normandy in northwestern France.

War veterans, habitants and tourists watched the presentation of the parachutes before some barges arriving ashore.

Britain's Prince Charles inaugurated a glider at Pegasus bridge, another symbol of D-Day landings, obtained by Allied paratroopers after hard battles and severe losses.

Related authorities have prepared a total of 16 official ceremonies to commemorate some 60,000 Allied soldiers killed in Normandy in the summer of 1944. Germans attend the ceremonies for the first time.

Eighteen thousand military and police forces have been mobilized to ensure security for the commemorative activities.

The 60th anniversary ceremony for the D-Day landing in Normandyis seen as probably the most important commemorative activity for the World War II veterans. It groups about 20 heads of state or government of the countries which took part in the landing, including US President George W. Bush, British Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is expected to attend the ceremony for the first time as a head of government. Born on April7, 1944, he is the first German leader who has not lived during the World War II.

US President Bush said in a letter published by the French newspaper Ouest France that words and good wishes were not sufficient for peace. Peace can only be the fact that vigilant, active, strong and brave men and women are ready to sacrifice their lives when necessary.

French President Jacques Chirac took use of the 60th anniversary to pay tribute to combatants for the liberty and those faithful to the values of democracy, law and liberty.

Source: Xinhua