Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were observed commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings this past Thursday at the solemn surroundings of the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
The duo, who famously collaborated on the World War II epic 'Saving Private Ryan', appeared in thoughtful discussion while paying their respects.
Both Hanks, 67, and Spielberg, 77, donned suits and sunglasses at the event, which was attended by several notable figures including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
The Bidens took the opportunity to meet with American veterans who participated in the monumental 1944 invasion that marked a turning point in World War II.
The ceremony also saw the attendance of King Charles and Queen Camilla, further highlighting the international recognition of the day’s historical significance.
In a moving part of the proceedings, French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed the Legion of Honor, France's highest distinction, upon eleven U.S. WWII veterans.
During the event, Hanks was also seen sharing a light moment with former US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Reflecting on their influential film, Spielberg once noted, "If we pulled this off in the right way — and it stood the test of time — this was going to stand in, in some small way, for what those kids experienced at 6:30 in the morning on June 6, 1944.” His sentiment echoes the depth of respect and reverence held for those who fought on that fateful day.
Tom Hanks added, "If we ever forget that it was a bunch of individuals that went over, and they all had names like Ernie, and Buck and Robert — that’s when we’ve done a bad job of being citizens of the world, I think.”
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