Construction of a new visitors’ centre and pavilion commemorating the D-Day landings has begun in France, following a £600,000 donation from BAE Systems.
The Winston Churchill Centre for Learning and Education is being built on the site of the British Normandy Memorial. It will open later this year to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion which led to the liberation of Europe during the Second World War.
The new centre will include an education room for younger visitors to understand Britain’s role in the Battle of Normandy and learn about this period of shared history.
Cressida Hogg, chair of BAE Systems, said: “As a company with a strong heritage in protecting our armed forces, I’m incredibly proud that we can play our part in honouring the courage and sacrifice of those men and women who gave so much to protect our freedoms.
“Sadly, with a dwindling number of surviving veterans, D-Day will soon pass from living memory. So, it’s more important than ever that we find ways to permanently mark their place in history, enabling young people to understand our past and learn the lessons from it to shape our future.”
General Lord Richard Dannatt, chair of trustees at Normandy Memorial Trust, said: “This year is the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied landings which opened the door to western Europe’s freedoms.
“The purpose of this education centre is to ensure that new generations never forget what Britain did for Europe in 1944 and to remember the sacrifice of so many.
“We are delighted that the centre’s principal sponsor is Britain’s premier defence company BAE Systems. Like us, they recognise the importance of understanding the past and learning its lessons.”
