Spare a thought tonight for the selfless courage of the young men of the air landing brigade of the 6th Airborne Division of the British Parachute Regiment who spearheaded the D-Day allied forces 81 years ago. In a daring surprise attack, they landed by parachute and gliders behind enemy lines shortly after midnight east of Caen in Normandy. They captured bridges over the Caen Canal (Pegasus Bridge) and the River Orne at Ranville. to protect the D-Day Normandy landings from attack by enemy reinforcements and facilitate the later advance of allied forces eastwards into France.
Join me in saluting the honour of the British paratroopers, and all of the 150 000 brave men of Britain, Canada and the United States of America constituting the D-Day forces who liberated Europe, defending our democracy and freedom.
We shall always remember them.
