Maryland officials visit Normandy, SPP countries

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, along with Colonel Robert Finn, national commander of the 29th Division Association and a veteran of the D-Day landings, prepare to lay a wreath during a ceremony at St. Laurent sur Mer along Omaha Beach. (Photo courtesy of the Maryland National Guard)
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ANNAPOLIS, Md., (6/6/09) – Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley today joined U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Normandy, France to participate in ceremonies commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day, and in particular, Maryland’s historic role in the invasion. 

The governor and Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins, adjutant general of Maryland and secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. are in Normandy as guests of the 29th Infantry Division Association, which represents veterans who previously served in the historic division. The 29th Infantry Division was the only National Guard division to land on the Normandy beach on D-Day, and was comprised of units representing Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

 Since his arrival yesterday, the governor has attended commemoration ceremonies along Omaha Beach, including observances at the American cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer, and the National Guard and the 29th Infantry Division memorials, both of which are located at Vierville-sur-Mer. 

 “The historic landings here 65 ago remind us that our freedom must be defended, and often comes with the ultimate sacrifice,” said O’Malley. “The beaches of Normandy are hallowed ground.  The efforts of those selfless soldiers, many of whom never made it off this expansive beachhead, and in particular those Marylanders from the famed 29th Infantry Division, changed the course of history. 

“Those soldiers who served so bravely here represented the best that Maryland had to offer, and as our greatest generation, deserve our unwavering gratitude.”

In addition to the larger commemoration ceremonies, the governor participated in a wreath-laying ceremony in the town of St. Laurent, and attended a dinner in honor of those 29th Infantry Division veterans, who participated in the D-Day invasion and traveled to France to participate in the 65th anniversary celebration.

“In a broader sense, Gov. O’Malley’s trip to Normandy not only honors those Marylanders who participated in the D-Day landings, but also those men and women who have served and continue to serve our state and our nation in times of peace and war” said Adkins. “Of the more than 288,000 Maryland men and women who served in World War II, nearly 6,500 never made it home.  They made the ultimate sacrifice, all in the name of preserving freedom for generations to come.”

During the remainder of his trip, the governor will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the republic of Estonia where he will hold meetings with military and civilian leaders representing both governments as well as business leaders as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP). 

The SPP brings together U.S states and territories and their respective National Guard units with new or emerging democracies throughout the world.

The State of Maryland and the Maryland National Guard have long-standing partnerships under SPP with both Estonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina dating back to 1993 and 2003 respectively. 

Maryland has played a key role in working with both governments in fostering democracy, encouraging market-based economies and promoting regional cooperation and stability.

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