Veterans and dignitaries gathered today to mark the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, the largest military seaborne operation in history that took place on June 6, 1944.

On that date, nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed on beaches across Normandy in what became the largest seaborne invasion in military history. The operation marked a pivotal moment in World War II as Allied forces established a crucial foothold in Nazi-occupied Western Europe.

This year's commemorations at the British Normandy Memorial hold special significance as nearly 100 additional British names are being added to honor those who served in the Battle of Normandy. The memorial serves as a permanent tribute to British personnel who died during the Normandy campaign.

The anniversary events include tributes to honor the massive Allied undertaking that began on the beaches of northern France 82 years ago. French schoolchildren and other participants, including the grandson of Field Marshal Montgomery, are taking part in the commemorative ceremonies.

The D-Day landings represented a turning point in the war against Nazi Germany, opening a second front in Western Europe that would ultimately contribute to Allied victory in 1945.