Proud veterans in their 90s and families of fallen soldiers are commemorating the epochal D-Day invasion of Normandy 72 years ago that helped the Allies defeat Adolph Hitler.
First visitors arrive in the fog light to pay respect on the opening of the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
U.S. Air Force veteran Hartley Baird from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, center, who sailed into Normandy in August 1944 poses for visitors in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
U.S. and Texas flags, are displayed with photo and flowers on the grave of soldier Billie D. Harris in the Colleville American military cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6 2016 on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. Peggy Harris of Vernon, Texas, was unable to come to the American Cemetery this year to visit the grave of her husband, D-Day soldier Billie D. Harris, but friends came and placed the items on the grave asking visitors to send photos to Peggy, his widow of 72 years. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
U.S. representatives of WWII veterans associations pay their respects as they listen to the U.S. national anthem prior to lay wreaths on the memorial in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
Henry Breton, a 91-year-old veteran from Augusta, Maine, who landed on the beach soon after dawn on D-Day in 1944 with the 106th Infantry Division, is being interviewed for the Associated Press as he comes to pay respects and share memories with other survivors in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
Henry Breton, a 91-year-old veteran from Augusta, Maine, who landed on the beach soon after dawn on D-Day in 1944 with the 106th Infantry Division, displays his card as he comes to pay respects and share memories with other survivors in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
Henry Breton, a 91-year-old veteran from Augusta, Maine, who landed on the beach soon after dawn on D-Day in 1944 with the 106th Infantry Division, walks to pay respects and share memories with other survivors in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
Roses are placed on the tomb of Morris H. Hilghman Jr of the PVT 507 Parachute Inf Regiment from west Virginia , who died on June 9, 1944, by French members of WWII veteran association "Les Fleurs de la Memoire", "Flowers for Memory", in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
French members of WWII veteran association "Les Fleurs de la Memoire", Flowers for Memory, pay their respects in front of the tomb of Morris H. Hilghman Jr of the PVT 507 Parachute Inf Regiment from west Virginia , who died on June 9, 1944, in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
French visitors, Joao Pereira , 7, from Brives, and his grand father Daniel Dieulle, 67, from Bourges, central France walk to pay respect to the U.S. veterans in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
First visitors arrive at the memorial, shrouded in fog, to pay their respects on the opening of the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
An unidentified French cemetery employee cleans a cross in the early fog light prior to the opening of the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
U.S. Air Force veteran Hartley Baird from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, center, who sailed into Normandy in August 1944 poses for visitors flanked with U.S. 4/25 IBCT Airborne soldiers from Jber, Alaska, from left, SSG Torres, SGM Bardaza, and SSG Perez, in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
U.S. representatives of WWII veterans associations pay their respects after laying wreaths on the memorial of the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
A photo displayed shows Peggy Harris of Vernon, Texas, who was unable to come to the American Cemetery this year to visit the grave of her husband, D-Day soldier Billie D. Harris, but friends came and put flowers and a sign on the grave asking visitors to send photos to Peggy, his widow of 72 years in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
An American soldier, no name given, walks in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
Morning fog light covers the tombs prior to the opening of the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
U.S. staff members raise the American flag in the early morning prior to the opening of the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6, 2016, on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
Photos, flags and flowers on the grave of soldier Billie D. Harris in the Colleville American military cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6 2016 on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. Peggy Harris of Vernon, Texas, was unable to come to the American Cemetery this year to visit the grave of her husband, D-Day soldier Billie D. Harris, but friends came and placed the items on the grave asking visitors to send photos to Peggy, his widow of 72 years. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
John Besets from the Netherlands, at the grave of soldier Billie D. Harris in the Colleville American military cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6 2016 on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. Peggy Harris of Vernon, Texas, was unable to come to the American Cemetery this year to visit the grave of her husband, D-Day soldier Billie D. Harris, but friends came and placed the items on the grave asking visitors to send photos to Peggy, his widow of 72 years. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
Photos, flags and flowers on the grave of soldier Billie D. Harris in the Colleville American military cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Monday June 6 2016 on the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. Peggy Harris of Vernon, Texas, was unable to come to the American Cemetery this year to visit the grave of her husband, D-Day soldier Billie D. Harris, but friends came and placed the items on the grave asking visitors to send photos to Peggy, his widow of 72 years. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
WWII enthusiasts walk on Omaha beach next to the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
German Capt. Josef Gutsmiedl of the 1st Company Military Police Regiment 3 from Munich, Germany, and his soldiers stand on the ridge near a German blockhouse on Omaha beach, next to the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
German Captain Josef Gutsmiedl, of the 1st Company Military Police Regiment 3 from Munich, Germany, center, looks on as his soldier writes the name of regiment on the sands of Omaha beach next to the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
A Thank You is written in the sands of Omaha beach next to the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
WWII enthusiasts from Spain wearing 101st Airbone gears walk on Omaha beach next to the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
The memorial statue of the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
The memorial building in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
AP Photo/Francois Mori
American E6 soldier John, from Virginia Beach, whose grand-father was a pilot in Canadian Air Force during WWII, center, looks at the map of the memorial in the Colleville American military cemetery, in Colleville sur Mer, western France, Sunday June 5, 2016, on the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landing. D-Day marked the start of a Europe invasion, as many thousands of Allied troops began landing on the beaches of Normandy in northern France in 1944 at the start of a major offensive against the Nazi German forces, an offensive which cost the lives of many thousands. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
