U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Friday joined seven World War II veterans – ages 96 to 100 – in Washington to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe.
The president and first lady arrived at the World War II Memorial and participated in the laying of a wreath. During a tour of the memorial, they stopped briefly in front of a wall etched with the phrase: "Here we mark the price of freedom."
White House officials described the veterans as "choosing nation over self" by joining Trump at the WWII ceremony.
Timothy Davis, director of the Greatest Generations Foundation, which helps veterans return to the countries where they fought, told The Associated Press that the U.S. soldiers were originally scheduled to travel to Moscow for a commemoration event.
He said that with international travel out of the question during the COVID-19 pandemic, the veterans talked to him about trying to commemorate the day in Washington.
Nazi Germany’s commanders signed their surrender to Allied forces in a French schoolhouse 75 years ago Friday, ending the war in Europe.
