D-Day: 70 years later

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D-Day: 70 years later

Friday is the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings which saw 156,000 troops from the allied countries including the United Kingdom and the United States join forces to launch an audacious attack on the beaches of Normandy.

A young French girl visits the Normandy American Cemetery on the even of the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

French schoolchildren wave as a World War II era plane performs a flyby during a ceremony honoring those who fought in the Normandy campaign on the day before the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Picauville, France.

Local residents watch as Sgt. Major Retired Bill Ryan, who landed at Omaha Beach 70 years ago tomorrow, signs autographs following a ceremony honoring the First Infantry Division's actions on D-day on Omaha Beach June 5, 2014 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

A paratrooper drags a large Union flag as he lands during a D-Day commemoration in Ranville, western France, Thursday, June 5, 2014, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

93 year old U.S WW II veteran Jim Martin of the 101st Airborne, left, completes a tandem parachute jump onto Utah Beach, western France, Thursday June 5, 2014, as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D Day.

93 year old U.S WW II veteran Jim Martin of the 101st Airborne, is kissed by an unidentified woman after he completed a tandem parachute jump onto Utah Beach, western France, Thursday June 5, 2014, as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D Day.

93 year old U.S WWII veteran Jim Martin of the 101st Airborne adjusts his cap after he performed a tandem parachute jump on to Utah Beach, western France ,Thursday June 5, 2014, as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D Day.

Parachutists jump just outside Rainville during D-Day 70 Commemorations on June 5, 2014 in Ranville, France.

Parachutists jump just outside Rainville during D-Day 70 Commemorations on June 5, 2014 in Ranville, France.

A vsitor pays his respects at the First Infantry Division memorial, adjacent to a former German concrete bunker, above Omaha Beach on the eve of the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

A young French girl places flowers at the base of the First Infantry Division memorial at a ceremony honoring the division's actions on D-Day on Omaha Beach June 5, 2014 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

Visitors pay their respects at the First Infantry Division memorial above Omaha Beach on the eve of the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

British Normandy Veteran George Clarkson, who was a Royal Engineer, poses for a photograph besides Pegasus Bridge (Also known as the Bénouville Bridge - The taking of the Bridge was an important strategic victory) during D-Day Commemorations on June 5, 2014 in Ranville, near Caen in Normandy, France.

Military enthusiasts line up to march outside their camp just south of Omaha Beach on the day before the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Vierville, France.

Alex Basnard and his 4-year-old daughter Julia search for mussels along what came to be known as Omaha Beach on the day before the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Vierville, France.

Red, whie and blue balloons are released during a ceremony honoring those who fought in the Normandy campaign on the day before the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Picauville, France.

WW2 veteran Fred Holborn, from the Fleet Air Arm, salutes as he looks at British Legion Union flags carrying thank you messages planted in the sand on Gold beach on June 5, 2014 near Asnelles, France. 20,000 paper flags are being planted. Each one carries a personal message of Remembrance submitted by Royal British Legion supporters. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

World War II veteran William Spriggs, 89, of the 83rd Infantry Division and who took part in the invasion of Normandy, searches for fallen comrades in the Normandy American Cemetery June 5, 2014 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

D-Day veteran Cecil Deller, aged 89, from Cambridgeshire, walks on Sword Beach on June 5, 2014 in Hermanville, (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A D-Day re-enactment enthusiast wears the American flag at a re-enactment camp on June 5, 2014 near Utah Beach in Sainte Marie du Mont, France. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, Army Air Corps, salutes at the Glider Pilot Regiment Memorial at Pegasus Bridge during the D Day 70 Commemoration on June 5, 2014 in Ranville, France. (Photo by Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool / Getty Images)

Fred Glover, aged 88, a veteran of the 9th Para Battalian watches a parachute jump just outside Rainville during D-Day 70 Commemorations on June 5, 2014 in Ranville, France. Friday is the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings which saw 156,000 troops from the allied countries including the United Kingdom and the United States join forces to launch an audacious attack on the beaches of Normandy. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Bill Bray, a 7th Battalian Paratrooper Veteran who is 92 next month sits outside Cafe Gondree, the Pegasus Bridge Cafe, the first house in France to be liberated during the last hour of 5th June 1944 on June 5, 2014 in Ranville, France. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

D-Day veterans Doug Lakey (L), aged 94, and Alec Davidson 89, pause for thought during the Royal Artillery Commemoration Parade and service at Sword Beach on June 5, 2014 in Hermanville, France. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

D-Day veteran Ken Scott, aged 98, from Royal Wootton Bassett, is helped as he proudly stands for the last post during the Royal Artillery Commemoration Parade and service on Sword Beach on June 5, 2014 in Hermanville, France. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

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A young French girl visits the Normandy American Cemetery on the even of the 70th anniversary of D-Day June 5, 2014 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

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