Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a D-Day remembrance event at the Normandy American Cemetery in Normandy, France.
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00:00Thank you, Mr. King.
00:22The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Christopher W. Grady.
00:52Mr. Secretary, Mr. McCauley, Minister Le Corneau, Chairman Garrett, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and of course, our cherished veterans.
01:06It is truly a privilege to be here with you today on these hallowed grounds to honor the valor and the sacrifice and the indomitable spirit of those who fought and fell in these lands 81 years ago.
01:21This cemetery is a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the greatest generation and serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring spirit of freedom and of democracy.
01:36It is a place of solemn reflection, a place where we come to honor the fallen and a place to remember the lessons of history.
01:47And it is also a place of great beauty with its meticulously manicured lawns and its tranquil gardens.
01:56The cemetery's design was conceived by landscape architect Mark Lee Stevenson, and it is indeed a masterful blend of elegance and restraint, reflecting the dignity and the respect we owe to those who lie here.
02:15As we stand amidst the serene rose of white crosses and stars of David, we are reminded of the profound cost of freedom, the profound cost of doing right in the face of evil, and the legacy of those who gave their all for a cause greater than themselves.
02:40When we look out upon the calm beaches today, it is difficult to imagine the chaos and the carnage that unfolded here those many years ago.
02:50The beaches of Normandy bore witness to one of the most pivotal and audacious military operations in history.
02:57Operation Overlord marked the beginning of the end of tyranny in Europe.
03:05On that fateful day, over 156,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Utah and Omaha and Gold and Juneau and Sword.
03:17They faced a formidable enemy, entrenched in fortified positions determined to repel the invasion at all costs.
03:26At Omaha Beach, where the fighting was fiercest, American soldiers faced withering machine gun fire, a barrage of artillery, and thousands of obstacles designed to thwart their advance.
03:40And yet, through their sheer grit and toughness and determination, they pressed forward inch by bloody inch, securing a foothold that would ultimately lead to the liberation of Western Europe.
03:55The average age of troops who landed on D-Day was 22, 22 years old.
04:04Think of the promise and the potential and the possibilities that were lost.
04:11And yet, even in death, they remind us their memory is a lasting reminder of the power of freedom and the human spirit.
04:25Here, in this sacred cemetery, rest nearly 9,400 of our fallen heroes, and each headstone tells the story of courage and of sacrifice and of unwavering commitment to the ideals of liberty and justice.
04:40And as we walk these grounds, we are also reminded of the thoughtful care and reverence with which this cemetery is maintained.
04:51It serves as a solemn testament to the strong link between our nations and the shared values for which these brave souls fought.
05:01The rose of headstones are aligned with precision, symbolizing the unity and order that our fallen heroes sought to restore in that world of chaos.
05:13And the memorial here, with its colonnade and reflecting pool, stands as a beacon of remembrance, inscribed with the names of our missing in action.
05:24As we reflect on the events of D-Day, let us also remember then the broader context of World War Two, this global conflict which came claimed the lives of over 600 million people, a global conflict that was a struggle between the forces of freedom and the forces of oppression.
05:44The victory achieved here on these beaches was not just a military triumph.
05:50It was a triumph of the human spirit, an example of the resilience and resolve of free peoples united in a common cause.
05:59As we gather here today, we are not only honoring the past.
06:06We also celebrate the present and the future.
06:09We celebrate the bonds of friendship and alliance that were forged in the fire of war and have endured for generations.
06:17And we celebrate the values of freedom and of democracy and of human dignity that we hold so dear, values that were defended at such great cost on this very soil.
06:29Today, as we honor the memory of those who fought and fell, let us reaffirm our commitment to the principles for which they gave their lives.
06:39Let us work together to build a world where the horrors of war are but a distant memory and where peace and prosperity reign.
06:47And let us remember that the eyes of history are upon us and the hopes and prayers of those who came before us inspire us to carry forward their legacy.
07:01May God bless the souls of the fallen. May God bless our veterans. And may God bless the United States of America and her allies. Thank you very much.
07:13I now introduce the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the United States to the French Republic and to the Principality of the United States to the French Republic and to the Principality of the United States.
07:41Monaco, Mr. David R. McCauley.
07:53Honored Veterans, Monsieur le Ministre Le Cornu, Secretary of Defense Hexeth, Admiral Grady, Monsieur le Prefet, Monsieur le Mayor de Couleville-sur-Mer, Chairman Garrett and all our terrific colleagues at the American Battle Monuments Commission, ladies and gentlemen,
08:09Bonjour and good morning. The quiet peace that reigns over these grounds betrays the hard fought battles that occurred on the beaches below 81 years ago today.
08:23We look out into a sea of white crosses and we remember. We remember how on June 6, 1944, young men from every corner of our nation, some barely old enough to shave, took part in one of the most audacious military operations in history.
08:42They fought their way off the beaches under heavy fire, many stopping to render aid to their injured comrades to free our historic ally France from Nazi occupation.
08:54With German artillery raining down upon them, they fought on with moral clarity and purpose.
09:02They fought for their fellow soldiers. They fought for their mothers and fathers, their wives and children.
09:09They fought for their country. But they also fought for an idea. Liberty. Liberté. An idea which inspired our nation's own quest for freedom 250 years ago and which underpins our Franco-American alliance to this day.
09:28The memory of what happened on these now tranquil shores is kept alive through every person who has made the trip here today.
09:37To our veterans here this morning, many of whom I welcomed in Deauville earlier this week and was so grateful for that opportunity, you have our eternal gratitude.
09:48I know most of you object to being called heroes, but heroes you are. Your generation defined what duty and service mean.
09:58You inspire us to be our better selves in defending the values you selflessly fought for.
10:05We here today have a responsibility, a moral obligation to pass down the memory of what happened here to younger generations.
10:13If we are truly to honor our veterans and the soldiers buried here, then we must never take for granted the sacrifices they made in defense of democracy and our freedom.
10:23We need but gaze upon the rows of graves dotted along the coastline to grasp the steep price of liberty.
10:31We mourn the 9,389 men and women buried here and the 1,557 more whose final resting place is unknown, their names engraved on the wall of the missing.
10:44We also mourn the Free French and other allies who died fighting alongside us as well as the many civilians who perished during the fight for their freedom.
10:53Welcome. To the people of Normandy, thank you for helping to take care of this and other halid sites across the region that bore witness to the pivotal moments of the war.
11:04Whether you watched D-Day unfold with your own eyes or heard stories of that epic day from your parents and grandparents,
11:11your undying respect for our fallen heroes is a core part of the duty of remembrance.
11:18Thank you very much.
11:19Je redresse mes remerciements les plus sincères au peuple de la Normandie.
11:24Merci d'avoir veillé à la protection de ce lieu de repos et des autres lieux marqués par les épisodes charniers de la guerre.
11:33Certains parmi vous sont les témoins directs du débarquement.
11:36D'autres connaissent seulement les histoires de ce jour fatidique rencontrés par des parents ou des grands-parents.
11:43En perpetuant ce souvenir, vous faites honneur au devoir de mémoire et à nos et aux disparus.
11:50Je vous remercie infiniment.
11:55In liberating France and Europe 81 years ago, American soldiers and our allies left us a great gift,
12:01but also an awesome responsibility.
12:03To ensure, as they did for us, that the world we leave behind for our children and grandchildren remains free, safe and prosperous.
12:12Let us rededicate ourselves to their legacy and to that purpose.
12:17Long live France.
12:19Long live the United States of America.
12:21Long live the memory of our heroes of D-Day.
12:25Vive la France.
12:26Vive les États-Unis d'Amérique.
12:28Et vive le souvenir des héros du débarquement.
12:31Merci.
12:32J'invite le ministre de la Défense de la République française, Monsieur Sébastien Lecornu.
12:50I now introduce His Excellency, Monsieur SĂ©bastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces of the
12:57French Republic.
12:58CHER VETERANS, Monsieur le Secrétaire à la Défense des États-Unis d'Amérique, Mesdames
13:12et Messieurs les représentants des autorités civiles et militaires. Au cœur des plages
13:20de Normandie, le cimetière américain de Colville-sur-Mer surplombe Omaha Beach et domine
13:26la mer. La mer, toujours recommencée, écrit le poète Paul Valéry. C'est ici, sur cette
13:35mer, sur ces plages, que tout a commencé. Et ce qui nous a saisis, ce qui nous saisit
13:41encore aujourd'hui, 81 années après le débarquement du 6 juin, c'est le silence et la paix qui
13:48règnent sur ce morceau d'Amérique en Normandie. Un silence qui contraste avec le fracas des
13:55armes. Autour de nous, 9387 croix blanches, tournées vers l'Ouest, vers le pays natal,
14:05rappellent la mémoire des soldats et civils américains qui se sont sacrifiés pour la
14:09victoire et pour la paix du monde. En hommage aux Athéniens morts loin de chez eux lors
14:16de la guerre du Péloponnèse, Périclès avait déclaré « des hommes illustres ont pour
14:22tombeau la terre entière ». C'est ici, sur ce bout de terre, cette terre qui n'était
14:29pas la leur que reposent 9387 héros à qui nous voulons dire notre profond respect et
14:37notre Ă©ternelle reconnaissance. Nous n'oublions pas quel fut leur courage dans ce combat suprĂŞme
14:44qui allait sceller le sort de la guerre et libérer la France et l'Europe de la barbarie
14:49nazis. Ils étaient Américains et ils étaient fiers de combattre pour la liberté. Ils avaient
14:58Ă peine 20 ans et pour ces jeunes, cette bataille fut le combat de leur vie. C'est ici, Ă Omaha
15:04Beach, que les affrontements furent les plus terribles et les plus meurtriers. Le long de
15:11ces 5,9 km, de Vierville-sur-Mer Ă l'ouest, au Grand Hameau Ă l'est, Omaha la sanglante
15:19fut le théâtre d'une terrible guerre, mètre par mètre, d'abord en mer et dans le ciel,
15:25puis sur un sable, bientôt taché de sang. Pendant la nuit, des milliers d'avions et de
15:33navires alliés avaient fait tomber une pluie de feu sur les défenses ennemies. Hélas, ici
15:39à Omaha, en raison d'une météo chaotique, les bombes n'avaient pas atteint leur cible.
15:46À l'abri, dans l'ombre, les blocos allemands qui surveillaient l'horizon se préparaient
15:51à répandre la mort. Déjà les nombreuses noyades dans les lames glaciales de la Manche
15:57arrachaient des vies. À bord des barges, des milliers de soldats, comme un seul homme,
16:02allaient bientôt se jeter dans la mer et devenir des héros. Ce n'était pas la première fois.
16:09Dans l'histoire de nos deux pays, que la liberté était arrivée par la mer. En 1781,
16:18déjà , la flotte française avait mis fin à la guerre d'indépendance par la victoire
16:23de Yorktown. Et le peuple américain prenait en main sa destinée. Ce matin de juin, 150 000
16:32soldats de la liberté venus des États-Unis, du Royaume-Uni, du Canada, mais aussi de France
16:38avec le commando Kiefer, se préparent à débarquer. Ils allaient faire la jonction avec les troupes
16:45aéroportées et ouvrir la voie à un million de renforts américains, canadiens, britanniques,
16:50hollandais, grecs, belges, polonais, danois ou encore norvégiens. Ici, à Omar, le premier
16:57assaut est donné par 1450 soldats américains à 6h35. Le brigadier général Theodore Roosevelt,
17:07cousin du président Roosevelt, est l'un d'eux. Il repose ici, au cimetière de Colville-sur-Mer,
17:15parmi les siens. La résistance allemande depuis les dunes est farouche. Les blindés alliés
17:21n'ayant pas pu s'aborder, les GI américains progressent difficilement sur le feu nourri
17:26des mitrailleux ennemis. À l'heure où nous parlons, ils ne savent pas encore quelle sera
17:31l'issue des combats. Ce sont ces terribles minutes, qui ressemblent Ă des heures, qui
17:37ont fait de ce jour le jour le plus long. Plus de 10 000 hommes sont morts, blessés ou portés
17:44disparus ce jour-là sur les plages de Normandie. « Le temps n'altérera pas la gloire de leurs
17:51exploits ». Cette phrase du général John Pershing résonne dans ses allées et sur ses
17:57plages, rendues désormais à la paix. Chef du corps expéditionnaire américain en Europe,
18:03le général Pershing est aussi le fondateur de l'American Battle Monuments Commission,
18:08dont la mission, sacrée s'il en est, est d'entretenir la flamme du souvenir et de la mémoire.
18:14« La vie humaine n'a pas de prix », écrivait Antoine de Saint-Exupéry dans « Vol de nuit ».
18:21Comme de nombreux artistes et intellectuels français, ce combattant singulier de la liberté
18:26s'était exilé aux Etats-Unis. « La vie humaine n'a pas de prix » et pourtant, écrivait-il,
18:33« nous agissons toujours comme si quelque chose dépassait en valeur la vie humaine ». Ce
18:39quelque chose, pour les héros de la bataille de Normandie, c'était le sens du devoir
18:44et l'esprit de sacrifice. Leur courage a ouvert la voie à la libération de la France.
18:50Une longue épopée partagée avec des centaines de milliers de résistants de l'intérieur, partout dans le pays.
18:57Unis grâce à l'action de Jean Moulin sous l'autorité du général de Gaulle,
19:01ils ont défié tous les risques pour renseigner, saboter, libérer.
19:06Bientôt, les Français libres de Londres, d'Afrique, des Amériques, aller les rejoindre pour achever l'œuvre
19:15commencée et libérer Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg. Et grâce au débarquement du 6 juin, les alliés à l'Ouest
19:21et l'armée rouge à l'Est, aller marcher sur Berlin et vaincre enfin Hitler et le totalitarisme nazi.
19:29Monsieur le secrétaire à la Défense des États-Unis d'Amérique, cher Pete,
19:36nous n'oublions pas ce que nous leur devons, ce que nous, vous, devons.
19:43Chers alliés américains, chers vétérans, nous n'oublions pas que nos plus vieux alliés
19:49ont répondu présents à ce grave moment de notre histoire.
19:52Je le dis avec un profond respect devant vous, vétérans, qui incarnaient cette amitié unique
20:00entre nos deux pays. Ce matin du 6 juin, vous avez ouvert un chemin.
20:07A votre suite, plusieurs générations ont apporté ce chemin exigeant vers la liberté.
20:14Avec elle vient une immense responsabilité, celle de faire de votre mémoire, à vous,
20:20les derniers vétérans, une force pour les temps présents.
20:25Aujourd'hui, nous ne devons rien oublier face au danger d'un monde marqué par le retour de la guerre
20:30et des idéologies de la haine.
20:33Et c'est avec vous, chers alliés américains, que nous continuerons à défendre la paix et la liberté.
20:40Fidèles à la mémoire des héros du 6 juin, vive l'amitié franco-américaine,
20:45vive la RĂ©publique et vive la France.
20:50J'invite le Secrétaire d'État de la Défense des États-Unis d'Amérique,
21:07Monsieur Peter B. Hegseth.
21:11I now introduce the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America,
21:17the Honorable Mr. Peter B. Hegseth.
21:20Thank you, Minister Le Corneau, Sebastian, Mr. McCauley, Admiral Grady, Lieutenant King,
21:42and Chairman Garret, thank you to our distinguished guests,
21:50none more distinguished than our veterans.
21:55Thank you for being here today to commemorate the 81st anniversary of D-Day.
22:01It is a sheer privilege to stand in this cemetery among heroes and before God.
22:11An incredible monument to the sacrifices American warriors made on the beaches of Normandy.
22:18As I stare at that flag, we are forever grateful to the French government
22:24for dedicating this land as a resting place for our men.
22:28It is also an awe-inspiring sight to see the American flag flying here above thousands of crosses and stars
22:39as a tribute to our very best.
22:44As the former superintendent of this cemetery used to say,
22:48there they are, still serving their country.
22:54A living reminder.
22:5881 years ago, Hitler thought his Atlantic wall was impenetrable.
23:04Many agreed.
23:06He clearly had not met enough Americans.
23:11A more daring assault had never been planned.
23:14The task was daunting, a frontal assault across the channel on beaches and cliffs
23:21strewn with obstacles and defended by heavily fortified bunkers.
23:27Our only advantage was that the enemy underestimated the strength of the Allied war cause.
23:35The invasion would include brave troops from the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, France, Australia,
23:40New Zealand, South Africa, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Greece, and Holland.
23:47On the ground, the French resistance covertly aided the effort.
23:53And as the troops loaded into their ships, planes, and landing craft,
23:56they received copies of an order from General Eisenhower,
24:01reminding them of the stakes of their mission.
24:04And I have a copy right here.
24:06He wrote,
24:07You are about to embark upon the great crusade
24:11toward which we have striven these many months.
24:15The eyes of the world are upon you.
24:19The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
24:25In company with our brave allies and brothers-in-arms on other fronts,
24:30you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine.
24:33The elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe
24:38and security for ourselves in a free world.
24:43Your task will not be an easy one.
24:47He ends by writing,
24:48And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God
24:53upon this great and noble undertaking.
24:57Now that's a mission statement if I've ever heard one.
25:02Those words, along with ceaseless prayers to the Lord Almighty,
25:06willed our troops as they pushed off into dark and choppy waters.
25:12They prayed.
25:13They smoked.
25:15They joked.
25:17They rode home.
25:18They looked at photos.
25:19They knew many of them would not make it out alive.
25:24And they would have to rely on each other to succeed or to just survive.
25:30The assault began quietly before dawn on June the 6th,
25:35with radio silence,
25:36as paratroopers and gliders landed in the early hours.
25:40These men flung themselves into the abyss of night,
25:46lit only by the fire of German tracers.
25:50Later that morning,
25:52the greatest amphibious assault in the history of mankind began in full force.
25:59Our men pushed through the waves and flung themselves upon the sand.
26:04The courage it took to do this is unfathomable.
26:12The first groups were decimated.
26:15Thousands of young men lost their lives,
26:16cut down by the barrage of machine guns and mortars.
26:20But they never let up.
26:23Our warriors never faltered.
26:26God at their backs.
26:29As they forced their way inland,
26:31the Atlantic Wall began to crumble.
26:34It is these men
26:36and their bravery
26:39whom we are here to celebrate and remember.
26:44A generation of farmhands and city kids,
26:50baseball players and shopkeepers,
26:53big towns,
26:55small towns,
26:56rich,
26:58poor,
26:58who were forged and hardened in the Great Depression.
27:02hard men
27:04forged for hard times.
27:09Ordinary men
27:10who mustered
27:12extraordinary courage.
27:15While every one of the 9,000 Americans buried here
27:19are heroes,
27:20three men here also received the Medal of Honor
27:23for their actions in the invasion.
27:25And as Sebastian mentioned,
27:27one of those was Brigadier General
27:28Theodore Roosevelt Jr.,
27:30the oldest man to land on D-Day at the age of 56.
27:35He had to submit
27:36a written petition
27:38to receive permission
27:41because he had a heart condition
27:42and arthritis.
27:44He had nothing to prove,
27:46but he could not stay back
27:48while his men met their fate.
27:52There were no other generals
27:54on the beach that day.
27:57When he landed,
27:59far from his objective,
28:01he simply said,
28:02men,
28:03we'll start the war
28:05from right here.
28:07He organized the troops
28:09and made order out of chaos.
28:12A month later,
28:13his heart gave out,
28:15but he
28:16had completed his mission,
28:18as did
28:20every soul
28:21buried
28:23under one of those markers.
28:26You see,
28:27war reveals the true character of men,
28:31the character
28:31of a people.
28:34Lead from the front
28:35or capitulate
28:38and fall out.
28:40To walk over
28:41or run,
28:43if you can,
28:44carrying equipment
28:45over that
28:46open beach
28:47as shells and bullets
28:49thunder around you
28:50again and again,
28:52I
28:53cannot imagine.
28:56Could you do that?
28:59Could I?
29:02Could we?
29:05As we know,
29:06we have a number
29:07of these warriors
29:08with us here today.
29:10These men,
29:12boys then,
29:15were part of those
29:16landing forces.
29:17They
29:17embody
29:18the warrior ethos.
29:21We have many other men
29:22here today
29:23who served in France
29:24and across the world
29:25in that war.
29:27To that,
29:28I can simply say,
29:29gentlemen,
29:29thank you
29:30for your service,
29:32for your sacrifice,
29:34and for your bravery.
29:35That day
29:37and those days
29:38that followed
29:39turned the tide
29:40of the war
29:40and history itself.
29:43In the two months
29:44after the invasion,
29:45the Allies poured
29:46more than
29:47two million troops
29:48through the hard-won
29:50opening in Normandy.
29:51Without Operation Overlord,
29:53without the sacrifices
29:54of American,
29:55French,
29:56British,
29:56and other Allied powers,
29:58we would not have
30:00the free world.
30:01This day,
30:05June the 6th,
30:06is the price
30:08of freedom.
30:11We remember the losses.
30:13We celebrate
30:14the victories.
30:15We rededicate ourselves
30:17to the fight
30:18for liberty,
30:19security,
30:20and peace.
30:21And again,
30:23we should ask ourselves,
30:26could I do
30:29what they did?
30:31Could you?
30:34Could we?
30:37Could our kids?
30:40Do we produce
30:41such men?
30:44How do we
30:45produce
30:46such Americans?
30:48Our civilization
30:50today
30:51and going forward
30:52must answer
30:54those questions.
30:58You know,
30:58I wrote this speech
31:00before this morning,
31:01but this morning,
31:02I got my answer.
31:05This morning,
31:06I had a chance
31:06to do PT
31:07with Army Rangers
31:09on the beach,
31:10on Omaha Beach.
31:13I got my answer
31:14to those questions.
31:15With the sun rising,
31:16with the Ranger Regiment,
31:19yes,
31:20we do produce
31:21such men still.
31:24From far-flung places
31:26willing to traverse
31:27the entire globe
31:28to defend freedom.
31:30I had a chance
31:31this morning
31:31to run
31:32with a young Ranger
31:33whose grandfather
31:35was liberated
31:37in the Philippines
31:38by the Sixth Rangers.
31:41He joined
31:42and he didn't even
31:43know that.
31:44the legacy
31:46of Americans
31:48around the world
31:50for freedom.
31:53You know,
31:53as we ran
31:54on that beach
31:55this morning
31:56at 6.30,
31:57as the sun
31:57was rising,
31:58about the same time
31:59those first landing
32:01crafts landed,
32:03it didn't look much
32:04like a battlefield.
32:06It looked like a beach.
32:08I ran over
32:11more than a few
32:12sandcastles.
32:14That's
32:15what those men
32:17fought for.
32:19That we may turn
32:20scenes of death
32:22into scenes
32:24of life.
32:26Scenes of war
32:27into scenes
32:29of peace.
32:32Glorifying
32:32Almighty God
32:33with our lives
32:34and living
32:36worthy
32:37of their sacrifice.
32:41That together
32:42our nations
32:42will be strong
32:43and free.
32:46Today,
32:47the United States
32:47and France
32:48again rally together
32:50to confront
32:51such threats.
32:53Because we strive
32:55for peace,
32:56we must
32:57prepare for war
32:58and hopefully
33:00deter it.
33:02We must ensure
33:04that our children
33:05and our grandchildren
33:07know what
33:09these men did,
33:10that they understand.
33:13I used to say,
33:16and it's a cozy thing
33:17to tell ourselves,
33:19especially after
33:19World War II,
33:20that they fought
33:23so that their kids
33:25and grandkids
33:25won't have to.
33:26And in some cases
33:27that was true.
33:30But in most cases,
33:32they fought
33:34and we fight
33:36knowing that our kids
33:38and grandkids
33:39will have to be willing
33:40to do the same
33:41as well.
33:44Because history
33:45is not over.
33:46evil has not been
33:49eradicated
33:49from the globe.
33:51Good men
33:52are still
33:54needed
33:54to stand up.
33:58America will require
33:59such men.
34:00The world
34:01will require
34:01such men.
34:02And therefore,
34:03we must teach
34:04our kids
34:05and grandkids
34:06to understand,
34:08to remember,
34:11and to live worthy.
34:12our world
34:16is a better place
34:16when Europe
34:17and America
34:18are strong,
34:19free,
34:19and independent.
34:22France understands
34:24this well,
34:24and so do the men
34:25buried here,
34:26and so do the men
34:26sitting before me.
34:30Our nations together
34:31have endured
34:32a bond
34:33intertwined
34:34by history,
34:35and we share
34:36this hallowed ground
34:37underneath our feet,
34:39dedicated
34:39and consecrated
34:41by the blood
34:43of our heroes.
34:45Our moment
34:46today
34:47is an echo.
34:49It's an echo
34:49of theirs.
34:51And may
34:52we live
34:53worthy
34:53of them.
34:55It is truly
34:56one of the honors
34:57of a lifetime
34:58to commemorate
34:59the sacrifices
35:00of D-Day
35:01and celebrate
35:02the freedoms
35:03of our two nations.
35:06God bless you all,
35:09and may God bless
35:10our warriors.
35:25Thank you,
35:25Secretary Hegseth.
35:28Nous allons maintenant
35:29procéder
35:30au dépôt des gerbes.
35:32Veuillez rester assis,
35:35mesdames et messieurs.
35:36Je demanderai
35:37aux personnes appelées
35:38de se présenter
35:39dès l'appel
35:40de leur nom.
35:42Les gerbes
35:42vous seront présentées
35:43par un membre
35:44du personnel
35:45du cimetière.
35:47We will now
35:48proceed
35:49with the laying
35:49of wreaths.
35:51Ladies and gentlemen,
35:52please remain seated.
35:54And for those
35:55laying wreaths,
35:56please come forward
35:57as your names
35:58are called.
35:58Your wreaths
36:00will be brought
36:01forward to you
36:02by a member
36:02of the cemetery
36:03staff.
36:04The Honorable
36:16Peter B. Hegseth,
36:19Secretary of Defense
36:20of the United States
36:22of America,
36:23representing
36:24the Department of Defense
36:26of the United States
36:27of America,
36:29representing
36:29the Ministry of Defense
36:32of the United States
36:32of America.
36:33of the United States
37:03of the United States
37:04of the United States
37:05of the United States
37:06of America.
37:07Monsieur SĂ©bastien Lecornu,
37:10ministre des Armées,
37:12representing
37:13the Republic of France,
37:15représentant
37:16la République française.
37:18of the United States
37:20of America.
37:21of the United States
37:23of America.
37:26of the United States
37:56Mr. David R. McCauley, Chargé d'Affaires, United States Embassy in France, representing the United States of America, représentant les États-Unis d'Amérique.
38:26Mr. David R. McCauley, Chargé d'Affaires, United States Embassy in France, representing the United States of America,
38:56and Darla and Greco
39:04For the following officials, as your name is called,
39:09please move forward,
39:11and you will be presented your wreaths, brought forward to you by a member of the cemetery staff.
39:17Once the last name is called, you will all be invited.
39:21Move forward and place your wreaths.
39:23Admiral Christopher Grady, Vice-Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, representing the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States,
39:34représentant l'État-major des armées des États-Unis d'Amérique.
39:39Général d'armée Pierre Schille, chef d'État-major de l'armée de terre française,
39:46representing the French Army, représentant l'armée de terre française.
39:53Général Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of the United States European Command and Supreme High Line Commander Europe,
40:03representing the United States Armed Forces in Europe, représentant l'État-major des armées américaines en Europe.
40:12Général Christopher Donoghue, commander of the United States Army in Europe and Africa,
40:18representing the United States Army in Europe and Africa.
40:23Général D'armée de terre des États-Unis en Europe et en Afrique.
40:27Général D'armée de terre française, commander of the United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa,
40:35representing the United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa,
40:41Général D'armée de terre française, représentant l'État-major des forces maritimes des États-Unis en Europe et en Afrique.
40:46Général D'armée de terre, lieutenant general Alphonse Meiss, chief of staff of the German Army,
40:53representing the German Army, représentant l'armée de terre allemande.
40:59Mme Nathalie Portes, vice-présidente de la région Normandie, représentant la région Normandie.
41:12Mme Patricia Gali-Duquen, représentant le département du Calvados.
41:18Mme Patrick Tomine, président de l'intercommunalité Visini-Omaa et maire de Colville-sur-Mer,
41:33representing the municipality of Colville-sur-Mer, représentant la municipalité de Colville-sur-Mer.
42:03Mme Patrick Tomine, président de la région Normandie, président de la région Normandie,
42:33président de la région Normandie.
42:36Merci, mesdames et messieurs.
42:38Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
42:49La Commission américaine des monuments de guerre remercie vivement les représentants des communes
42:54et les organisations militaires et privées qui ont déposé des gerbes de fleurs en amont de cette cérémonie.
43:00The American Battle Monuments Commission thanks the representatives of the organizations and military commands and communities who have laid their wreaths prior to this ceremony.
43:10The final wreath will be laid by Michael X. Garrett, Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission,
43:30and Mr. Tom Spohr, Executive Director for Operations.
44:00Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the playing of taps in a moment of silence in honor of the following.
44:26And a moment of silence in honor of the following.
44:29The American Battle Monuments Commission
44:34The Japanese Battle Monuments Commission
45:16Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
45:42S'il vous plaît, veuillez rester debout pour la bénédiction par le lieutenant Maxwell Abishai et le départ des couleurs.
45:50Please, ladies and gentlemen, remain standing for the benediction by lieutenant Maxwell Abishai and the retirement of the colors.
45:58Please, let's pray.
46:53Amen.
46:54Amen.
46:55Amen.
46:56Amen.
46:57Amen.
46:58Amen.
46:59Amen.
47:00Amen.
47:01Amen.
47:02Retire the colors.
47:04Amen.
47:05Amen.
47:06Amen.
47:07Amen.
47:08Amen.
47:09Amen.
47:10Amen.
47:11Amen.
47:12Amen.
47:13Amen.
47:14Amen.
47:15Amen.
47:16Amen.
47:17Amen.
47:18Amen.
47:19Amen.
47:20Amen.
47:21Amen.
47:22Amen.
47:23Amen.
47:24Amen.
47:25Amen.
47:26Amen.
47:27Amen.
47:28Amen.
47:29Amen.
47:30Amen.
47:31Amen.
47:32Amen.
47:33Amen.
47:34Amen.
47:35Mesdames et Messieurs, de la part de la Commission Américaine des Monuments de Guerre, du Sincere
47:44Américain de Normandie, je vous présente nos plus sincères remerciements pour votre
47:49présence à cette cérémonie de commémoration du 81e anniversaire du 6 juin 1944.
47:57S'il vous plaît, veuillez rester assis pendant que le Secrétaire de la Défense,
48:04le ministre des Armées, le chargé d'affaires et le chairman de la BMC saluent et remercient
48:11les forts drapeaux et les vétérans de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale.
48:16Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Normandy
48:22American Cemetery, a sincere thanks to everyone who attended this ceremony in commemoration
48:29of the 81st anniversary of D-Day.
48:32At this time, please, may we kindly ask all to remain seated while the Secretary of Defense,
48:39the French Minister of the Armies, the chargé d'affaires, and the chairman of the American
48:44Battle Monuments Commission thank today's flag bearers and World War II veterans.