President Trump was joined by eight World War II veterans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump commemorated the historical day at a wreath-laying ceremony on Friday at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Along with participating in a salute together, the first couple also took some time to speak with the veterans.
The veterans were originally scheduled to travel to Moscow for a commemoration event, but the idea was scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Associated Press.
The youngest veteran in attendance was 96 years old.
“These heroes are living testaments to the American spirit of perseverance and victory, especially in the midst of dark days,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said.
Timothy Davis, director of the Greatest Generations Foundation, which helps veterans return to the countries in which they fought, said the veterans were eager to celebrate the day despite the risks posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The veterans who joined the Trumps included participants in the D-Day invasion and a veteran who sent a coded message to the world that Germany had surrendered unconditionally, among others.
