US President Mr George W. Bush is observing today's US Memorial Day with a visit to Normandy where the D-Day landings took place 58 years ago.
Mr Bush will speak to citizens of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first town in France to be liberated by US troops. He will also give a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery in nearby Colleville-sur-Mer. The cemetery is home to the graves of 9,387 men and women killed in the war.
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President Mr George W. Bush with French President Mr Jacques Chirac during a press conference in Paris yesterday Photo: Reuters
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"Memorial Day in my country is a day to honour those who have sacrificed for freedom, given their lives," Mr Bush said in Paris ahead of the visit. "Many died in France, and I'm looking forward to the moment to share my country's appreciation".
Mr Bush said he would also use the Normandy visit to discuss the war on terrorism and "talk about modern-day sacrifices. We still fight people who hate civilisation. They can't stand freedom".
French President Mr Jacques Chirac will join Mr Bush and his wife at Normandy.
AP