Scotland paid tribute on Thursday evening to the generation who fought in the Second World War, 80 years to the day since more than 150,000 Allied forces invaded beaches in northern France.
More than 1,000 people attended Edinburgh’s Usher Hall for Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland’s commemorative event, titled Scotland’s Salute.
Audience members included Scottish D-Day veterans, dignitaries and military officials, as well as members of the public who wished to pay tribute to the service of thousands of men who secured our freedom.
The event featured music from a range of military and civilian performers and culminated in an act of Remembrance.
Scotland’s Salute was hosted by TV presenter and Royal Marines veteran JJ Chalmers, and first-person testimony of the invasion was provided by former journalist, MEP, and voice of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Alasdair Hutton OBE TD.
This event was one of many taking place across the UK and northern Europe, and was the largest in Scotland.
CEO of Legion Scotland, Dr Claire Armstrong OBE, said: “We are proud to have so poignantly delivered this commemorative event for the heroic D-Day generation.
“The packed Usher Hall fell silent to remember, was moved by the narrated testimony of our Scottish D-Day veterans and was roused by the moving performances of our musicians.
“The sacrifices of this generation are owed an eternal thanks, and we are forever grateful for the achievements of this generation.”
Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland, Gordon Michie, said: “Like Legion Scotland, we are supremely grateful for the opportunity to provide this commemorative event to the people of Scotland, but most importantly, to the Scottish D-Day veterans, and their families, who joined us tonight.
“The D-Day landings changed the course of history, and we cannot forget that in less than a year after this massive operation, victory in Europe was declared.
“Our freedoms today are owed to these men, and we too commit ourselves to an eternal gratitude for what they achieved on our behalf.”
(L) Bugler Alex Beveridge, (Centre) DDAY Veteran Cyril (Lou) Bird MM, and Lance Corporal Bugler Bailey Ryan (R) from the Band off His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
