Last week Western leaders marked the 80th anniversary of the day Allied troops landed on the beaches of northern France and surged into Nazi-occupied Europe in what was one of the most strategic operations that eventually led to the end of World War II.

Interestingly, observation of the D-Day landings, as they have been named, came as Europe is again haunted by war raging on the continent as the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine continues.

Most understandably, no official from Russia was invited to last week’s events on the shores of Normandy as Western governments reiterated their opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war against Ukraine.

Russia’s absence from the D-Day ceremonies is most regrettable because that country played a major role in defeating Adolf Hitler’s troops, so much so that some 20 millions Russians paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms the world now enjoys.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who once sought to build a relationship with President Putin, was on point in his reflection on the events of June 6, 1944 when 156,000 Allied troops with 20,000 vehicles landed in Nazi-occupied northern France despite facing a hail of bullets, artillery, and aircraft fire.

“Never will we forget the sacrifice of thousands of young soldiers” who crossed the Channel that day, he said in a statement ahead of the ceremonies as he expressed his country’s “unending gratitude” to the allied forces.

He also referenced the war in Ukraine, saying the current time “is a period that challenges us to ask what price we are prepared to pay for our freedom and for defending our values”.

Added President Macron: “May the example of these heroes
— whether renowned or anonymous
— galvanise our resolve and our belief in a future of peace and security.”

United States President Joe Biden was equally appreciative, telling one of the veterans at the ceremony, “You saved the world.”

The event holds significance for us as many Jamaicans answered the call to fight in the war, even though our numbers were not as great as those from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and a host of other countries.

However, as we reflect on the campaign to rid the world of a despot and his army, we note the concern expressed by Pope Francis last Wednesday that the lessons of World War II have not been learned.

“The memory of the errors of the past,” the Pope said, had helped maintain the resolve to “do everything possible to avoid another open world conflict”. However, he noted with sadness that this is no longer the case today and that men have a short memory.

“It is worrying… that the hypothesis of a generalised conflict is sometimes once again being seriously considered
— that people are, little by little, getting used to this unacceptable possibility,” he said.

His words are cause for concern. Democratic societies have a duty to unite in opposition to tyranny.