Obama: D-Day Is 'Story of America'

Invitation extended after Elizabeth grouses

(NEWSER) - France has finally relented and extended an invitation to a miffed Queen Elizabeth to D-Day ceremonies next week with President Obama, reports the Daily Mail. A French official said earlier this week the queen would not be included in the 65th anniversary commemoration in Normandy because it was very much a "Franco-American occasion." Yesterday, an Elysées Palace spokesman said the queen would be "welcome." The anniversary will mark the last major gathering of British survivors of the battle to liberate France. More»

Sarkozy wants to focus on 'main event' of US prez visit

(NEWSER) - Queen Elizabeth is furious at not being invited by the French for D-Day ceremonies next week that will include President Obama, reports the Daily Mail. The French never had any intention of inviting members of the British royal family to the 65th anniversary commemoration in Normandy in order to allow president Nicolas Sarkozy to focus on the "main event" of Obama's visit, said French officials. More»

Washington, Paris on good terms, Sarkozy aide says

(NEWSER) - President Obama will travel to Normandy for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, the New York Daily News reports. An aide to Nicolas Sarkozy spilled the beans on Obama’s June 6 visit after a reporter claimed the relationship between the two presidents was distant. “Relations are excellent and very productive,” Claude Gueant said, noting that Sarkozy and Obama talked yesterday about the upcoming G-20 summit. More»

5'5" French president shorter than Napoleon

(NEWSER) - At 5 feet 5 inches, Nicolas Sarkozy seems to feel a bit stature-challenged—so at the recent D-Day tribute, he used a 6-inch footstool, in addition to his elevator shoes, to hold his own against Barack Obama and Gordon Brown, the Daily Mail reports. Sarko “knew he was appearing on the same podium as far taller world leaders, and would have looked ridiculous” without it, says a French TV source. More»

(NEWSER) - Even before enlisting, World War II soldiers were made great by the “deprivations and lessons of the Great Depression,” Tom Brokaw writes in the Wall Street Journal. Shared sacrifice and lack of staple goods forged the outlook of the "Greatest Generation," and made the Army almost a relief. “So many veterans told me they got their first new pairs of shoes and boots when they enlisted." More»