Work begins on new Normandy D-Day heritage centre
Above: BAE Systems Chair, Cressida Hogg with General Lord Richard Dannatt, Chairman of trustees, Normandy Memorial Trust, visit the British Normandy Memorial at Vers-sur-Mer, France, 16th January 2024.
Courtesy BAE Systems
The new facility, called ‘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 ultimately led to the liberation of Europe during the Second World War.
The Centre will include an education room, providing a place for future generations to understand Britain’s role in the Battle of Normandy and learn lessons for the future.
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, Chairman of trustees, 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.”
In addition to BAE Systems’ donation to help build the new pavilion, its employees will volunteer to support the important work of the Normandy Memorial Trust over the coming years. The formal opening of the new building is expected to be a key feature of the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations on 6th June 2024.
To find out more about the British Normandy Memorial Trust: www.britishnormandymemorial.org
