Cadets from 444(Shoreditch) Squadron, Air Cadet Band, based in Hoxton and Mile end joined many World War II veterans in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Cadet Sophie Cooper playing Bag Pipes in Front of a group of Veterans at the Bayeux Cemetery.

“It is important to understand history through talking rather than text books. Every medal here tells a story and they need to be told through parades such as this. It is also special to me because it is a great honour to meet these men who were only a little older than me on D-Day.” Cadet Corporal Sophie Cooper of Hackney Road, who played bagpipes at the Bayeux Cemetery in front of the combined Normandy Veterans Association and Royal British Legion groups commented: “It was such a moving experience to play the pipes at the Bayeux Cemetery. I was really nervous but I knew how much it meant for so many people to be there. I am pleased to have been part of something so special.”

Squadron Leader Nick Sermon, an adult volunteer member of the Air Training Corps, on parade with Air Cadets at Bayeux for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. “When you meet and talk to the veterans, you can really appreciate the kind of courage they must have had to do not only on D Day but in the weeks following that eventful day. It was also an opportunity to meet local people whose lives were changed forever as a result of the events during that period of history. The four pipers from Shoreditch Air Cadets were fantastic and really made the day for so many of the people there.” A further 100 cadets plus support staff attended a parade at Colleville-Mongomery. The day saw a number of commemorative events around Normandy, attended by veterans and representatives of the allied forces and representatives of Her Majesty’s Government and Armed Forces including His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP and Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt.