Landing: in Ver-sur-Mer, a British Normandy Memorial inaugurated to commemorate D-Day

REPORTAGE

The building overlooks the sea, just above the landing beaches.

In Ver-sur-Mer, in Calvados, the British are preparing to pay homage to their soldiers.

The British Normandy Memorial is inaugurated this Sunday, 77 years after the D-Day landings.

The first stone was laid, two years ago to the day, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and Theresa May, then British Prime Minister. 

"It is a result close to perfection"

160 columns and 22,000 names carved in white stone by a team of Northern Irish workers came to participate in the final preparations before the ceremony.

"I admit, I am quite proud. It is a result close to perfection", launches one of them at the microphone of Europe 1.

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"We are right in the middle of the five Landing beaches", explains Sacha Marsac, spokesperson for the Normandy Memorial Trust association.

"This site was chosen by veterans, many of them landed in Ver-sur-Mer," he continues. 

"My father would have liked to be present"

At the entrance of the memorial are some curious inhabitants.

Many have been rocked by the story of D-Day, like Jean-Philippe.

His father, who arrived in the town in 1935, lived in the Salvador house.

"It served as a landmark for the British for the D-Day landings. The house appears in practically all the photos of staff or spy planes," he explains.

Before adding: "Obviously, my father would have liked to be present" at the inauguration of this memorial. 

To respect the gauges, the Sunday ceremony is held in a small committee.

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom and some local elected officials are present only.

Another inauguration will take place as soon as possible in the presence of the inhabitants of Ver-sur-Mer and the families of British veterans.