ANGELA Rayner, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Ashton-under-Lyne, joined members of Tameside Council to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day at Dukinfield Town Hall.
Angela said: “Eighty years ago today, the sun rose on a new day of hope for a world in the dark storm of the Second World War.
“As ships and planes full of brave British soldiers approached the coast of France on D-Day, their courage and sacrifice would bring liberation to Europe and secure our freedoms for generations to come.
“UK servicemen stood with our Allies from around the world to deliver a decisive blow against fascism and turn the tide of the war. Some made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives so we could live freely. Others returned home to build a new Britain out of the ashes of the war.
“On the 80th anniversary, we commemorate their courage, we honour their fallen comrades and we will ensure that their story is never forgotten.
“Our debt to them can never repaid in full. But we can – and must – honour their sacrifice. This goes beyond party politics. This is about who we are as a nation. This is our story, our history, our identity – and our future together.
“The story of D-Day is a story not only of individual courage, but of collective strength. Of commitment to our Western allies in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It is a story that resonates just as strongly today, in this new age of insecurity, as it ever has.
“We must never allow that generation’s heroism to be forgotten.”