On Thursday, June 6 Wrexham will join the nation in remembering the D-day landings 80 years after Allied troops waded ashore in northern France.
The landings marked the start of the battle to liberate western Europe, and proved a pivotal moment in the Second World War – eventually leading to the defeat of Hitler’s forces on the western front.
It’s hard to imagine the courage, fear and suffering that many servicemen experienced before and during the D-Day landings, and what their families went through back home, worrying about their loved ones.
So on Thursday, June 6 the city will play its part in commemorating those who fought and lost their lives on the beaches of Normandy.
D-Day parade starts from St Giles Church in Wrexham
Members of the public are being encouraged to turn out to support the parade, which starts from St Giles Church at 1.15pm.
The procession will march to the Normandy Veterans’ Memorial at Bodhyfryd, where a short wreath-laying service will take place.
The parade will be led by the Corps of Drums and Standard Bearers, members of the armed forces community, the Mayor of Wrexham Councillor Beryl Blackmore, and Wrexham Council’s Armed Forces Champion Councillor Beverley Parry-Jones.
The parade will also include crew members from HMS Dragon, and it will be the first time the crew has visited Wrexham since the city was officially affiliated with the warship at the end of April.
Councillor Parry-Jones said: “Please come along and support the parade, and help us pay our respects to those who fought and lost their lives on the beaches of Normandy in 1944.
“Their sacrifices and bravery helped secure the freedom we enjoy today, and it’s so important that we remember what they did for us.
“It will also be the first time that crew from HMS Dragon have visited the city, and we would love to see as many people as possible come along to give them a warm welcome.”
