WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former U.S. Army paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, will travel to Normandy, France this week to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion by Allied forces during World War II.  Reed will attend remembrance ceremonies and events as part of a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation that will help pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of U.S. and Allied forces who fought to liberate Europe from Nazism.

On June 6, Reed will join dignitaries and heads of state from around the world in Normandy, France to commemorate the approximately 160,000 Allied troops who, in 1944, carried out the largest amphibious invasion in military history, bringing together land, air, and sea forces and marking a turning point in World War II.

The D-Day operation was a coordinated effort that included more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft.  More than 160,000 troops landed on five code-named beaches heavily guarded by Nazi occupiers: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.  In addition to the heroic beach landings, the operation included other daring components such as overnight paratrooper and glider landings, naval and air force bombing missions, and U.S. Army Rangers scaling cliffs to take out German gun positions.

“Eighty years later, we are still in awe of those brave servicemembers who carried out this historic operation and helped defeat the Nazi regime.  The 80th anniversary of D-Day reminds us of the uncommon courage and extraordinary selflessness of our World War II veterans.  As many veterans advance in age, this is an opportunity to honor those who are still with us, those who fell in battle, and those who contributed to the mission.  These brave servicemembers changed the course of the war and the course of history.  Once again, the eyes of the world will be upon Normandy this week and those who fought so hard to restore freedom to the European continent.  It is humbling to pay tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of so many of our brave veterans and their families,” said Senator Reed.

“The eyes of the world are upon you,” General Dwight Eisenhower, the Allied commander, famously told troops before the operation was launched. “The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. … I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle.”

The delegation will arrive in Normandy on June 6 and join American and French leaders and veterans at a special ceremony at the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer. The delegation will meet with World War II veterans and pay their respects at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Later that day, members of the delegation will join heads of state representing Allied partners at an international ceremony at Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.

Later in the week, the delegation will watch as hundreds of U.S. servicemembers stationed in Europe, and from U.S.-based units with historical links to D-Day, join servicemembers and civilians from all over Europe participating in a commemorative parachute jump.

While in France, Reed and members of the Senate delegation also plan to meet with U.S. diplomatic and military leadership stationed in Europe.