Katie Connolly
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Jun 6, 2009 10:55 AM
Obama is in Normandy this afternoon commemorating the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings here. Echoing his sentiments at Buchenwald yesterday, Obama urged people of the world to remember the significance of the immense sacrifices witnessed here. “We must not forget that D-Day was a time and a place where the bravery and selflessness of a few was able to change the course of an entire century,” he said. “At an hour of maximum danger, amid the bleakest of circumstances, men who thought themselves ordinary found it within themselves to do the extraordinary.” President Sarkozy of France, Prime Ministers Harper of Canada and Brown of the United Kingdom and Prince Charles are also present, with all but the Prince giving speeches.
Penned by lead speechwriter Jon Favreau, Obama's remarks were moving and heartfelt. He said that of all the famous battles in history D-Day stands out for its success in the face of monumental odds. Moreover, Obama said, in a world of diverse and competing truths "it is rare for a struggle to emerge that speaks to something universal about humanity...What we faced in Nazi totalitarianism was not just a battle of competing interests. It was a competing vision of humanity. Nazi ideology sought to subjugate, humiliate, and exterminate. It perpetrated murder on a massive scale, fueled by a hatred of those who were deemed different and therefore inferior. It was evil."
Obama spoke of the heroism and sacrifice of individual servicemen, and of the people and industries that supported them at home. But at the heart of his speech was an empowering message reflecting Obama's defining philosophy: that the course of history is in our hands, moulded by our choices. In essence, yes we can. "You remind us that in the end, human destiny is not determined by forces beyond our control," he said of the men who fought and died here. "You remind us that our future is not shaped by mere chance or circumstance. Our history has always been the sum total of the choices made and the actions taken by each individual man or woman. It has always been up to us." After his speech, the French and U.S. Air Forces performed a dramatic flyover.
It was a flawless day - temperate and sunny, with a light breeze – but clouds gathered and the temperature dropped as Obama spoke, underscoring the sobriety of the moment (and eerily reminding your Gaggler that Obama at times is walking, talking symbolism). Like many of the places Obama has visited in the last 36 hours, it's a scene of magnificent beauty marked by deep melancholy. A sea of white crosses planted across pristine green lawns gives way to a striking coastline, a somber visual reminder of vast number of troops who gave their lives here on Omaha Beach.
Obama spoke before a bronze statue called "The Spirit of American Youth". On the sandstone colonnade above the statue are inscribed the words "This embattled shore, portal of freedom, is forever hallowed by the ideals, the valor and the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen." Ever the consummate marketing operation, the Administration had organized for a staffer to place the Presidential seal on the podium immediately before the President spoke. Obama's great uncle Charlie Payne, who fought in France and helped liberate Buchenwald, was present as was Actor Tom Hanks, whose film "Saving Private Ryan" was set here. Hanks sat near the front of the audience proving that his "nicest guy in Hollywood" mantle is well earned - he happily allowed service-members and random strangers to continually snap pics with him. David Axelrod and Rahm Emmaneul also appeared popular - you Gaggler spotted them posing for photos with veterans.
Earlier in the day, Obama attended a bilateral meeting with Sarkozy. They were joined by their glamorous spouses, both dressed in white, for lunch. We're still waiting for fashion critics to determine who won the couture showdown. According to the pool report, Obama spontaneously decided to work a ropeline of supporters before the bilat, prompting a frenzied reaction. Michelle and the first daughters visited the Eiffel Tower yesterday and were swarmed by fans. Tonight is date night, and speculation abounds that First Couple will dine at acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse's renowned Jules Verne restaurant, high in the Eiffel Tower. Their visit is already drawing breathless comparisons to the Kennedy’s 1961 tour of Paris.
