VOA新闻杂志2023--Soldiers, Civilians Remember World War II’s ‘D-Day’

Soldiers, Civilians¹ Remember World War II’s ‘D-Day’

The attack known as D-Day, by Allied² soldiers on Nazi³ German forces who occupied France during World War II, took place on June 6, 1944.

The landing led to the liberation⁴ of France and Western Europe.

On Tuesday, military members and regular people visited the American cemetery⁵ that overlooks⁶ Omaha Beach. That is where the soldiers landed 79 years ago. The cemetery has markers for over 9,000 American soldiers who died that day. The visitors gathered for a memorial service.

One person who supported the soldiers who fought that day is still alive. She was there.

Marie Scott is about to be 97 years old. During the war, she was a communications operator and worked in Portsmouth, England.

Her job was to move messages between the men fighting on the ground in Normandy, France and their leaders who oversaw⁷ the operation. One of those leaders was General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Scott was 17 years old at the time.

She was not in danger that day, but she feels like she was in the war.

"I could hear gunfire, machine guns, bombing aircraft, men screaming, shouting, men giving orders," she said.

"After a few moments of horror, I realized what was happening...and I thought, well, you know, there's no time for horror. You've got a job to do. So, get on with it. Which is what I did."

Scott called the experience a "pivotal point" in her life.

Mervyn Kersh of Great Britain was also at Tuesday's service. He landed at nearby Gold Beach on D-Day. He is now 98.

Both Kersh and Scott say they are sad to see another war going on in Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Scott said she is "disgusted" to see the fighting, and a war should start only if there is no other way to solve a problem between nations. She called the war "an atrocity⁸."

Kersh said Western countries should continue to support Ukraine with military aid. "The only way to stay free is to be strong," he said.

Two top American military officials were also in Normandy on Tuesday.

Secretary of Defense⁹ Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint¹⁰ Chiefs of Staff, appeared with World War II veterans.

During his military career, Milley was a top leader in the U.S. military departments that fought in France on D-Day -- the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions. He is finishing his service and is to retire in September.

It was Milley's last visit to Normandy as a top official. He stopped to talk with current American soldiers and gave a special coin to each soldier he met.

Ceremonies took place later Tuesday honoring the military members from the allied nations.

Civilians came to see the ceremonies, too, and to honor the soldiers who died.

German professor Andreas Fuchs teaches French in Berlin. He brought 10- through 12-year-old students to Normandy.

He said, "It's very important for children to have a moment in their lives to understand the liberation of Europe. And to know what peace has been for 80 years."

Jean-Philippe Bertrand came from Marseille, in southern France. He called the sacrifice "unimaginable." He said being there in person is different from seeing pictures.

"...Once you're here and you see the reality and the sacrifice that has been made for our beautiful country — I wanted to make the trip once in my life to thank all these people to whom we owe so much," he added.

Words in This Story

horror –adj. feeling scared

pivotal –adj. the place where a change of direction happens

disgusted –adj. a feeling of unhappy, nearly sick or angry about something

atrocity –n. a bad or evil thing that happens

1 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

2 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

3 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

4 liberation   

n.解放，解放运动（为获得平等权利和地位的行为）

参考例句：

• We should help those who are still struggling for liberation.我们应当帮助那些仍在为独立而斗争的人们。
• Many people died during famines every year before liberation.解放前每年有许多人在饥荒中死亡。

5 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

6 overlooks   

v.忽视( overlook的第三人称单数 )；监督；俯视；（对不良现象等）不予理会

参考例句：

• The parlor overlooks the street. 这客厅可俯瞰街道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• There are plenty of overlooks and trails. 有许多可供俯瞰之处和小径。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 oversaw   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He will go down as the president who oversaw two historic transitions. 他将作为见证了巴西两次历史性转变的总统，安然引退。 来自互联网
• Dixon oversaw the project as creative director of Design Research Studio. 狄克逊监督项目的创意总监设计研究工作室。 来自互联网

8 atrocity   

n.残暴，暴行

参考例句：

• These people are guilty of acts of great atrocity.这些人犯有令人发指的暴行。
• I am shocked by the atrocity of this man's crimes.这个人行凶手段残忍狠毒使我震惊。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。