SAM Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is backing a major event in Wrexham to commemorate the 80th year anniversary of the D-Day landings in Wrexham.
D-Day, June 6 1944, marked the beginning of Operation Overlord, the largest air, naval and land operation in history when over 150,000 troops crossed the English Channel on D-Day alone. It was the first step in the liberation of France and Western Europe, but the Allied Forces suffered heavy losses with almost 210,000 casualties by the end of Operation Overlord.
On Thursday June 6 2024, 80 years on, there will be a special parade to commemorate those who fought and those who lost their lives on the beaches in Normandy.
Mr Rowlands, a keen supporter of the armed forces said:
“This is an important opportunity for everyone to join together and support this major event in Wrexham city centre next month.
“Thousands of lives were lost defending our freedom and it is only right that we all remember their sacrifices.
“As we all know Wrexham has a very strong affinity with the army, so it is right to see such an event being planned to honour those who paid the ultimate price for peace.”
Members of the public are invited to Wrexham city centre where a parade, led by the Corps of Drums and Standard Bearers, Mayor, Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Beverley Parry Jones and members of the armed forces community, will take place.
The parade will leave St Giles Church at 1.15 pm and march to the Normandy Veterans’ Memorial, Bodhyfryd, where a short service to lay wreaths will take place.
Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Beverley Parry Jones, said, “Wrexham has strong links with the armed forces and this is our opportunity to pay tribute to casualties of the largest amphibious invasion in history.
“I hope many will join with us as we gather to pay our respects to those who fought bravely and to those who lost their lives, for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
