A military re-enactment parade filled the French Normandy town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise on the eve of the 78th D-Day anniversary.

This was the first French village to be liberated from Nazi occupation.

As the D-Day veterans set foot on the Normandy beaches and other World War II sites this week for the anniversary, it is a bittersweet experience they say.

For the past two years, D-Day ceremonies were reduced to a minimum amid COVID-19 restrictions.

This year, crowds of French and international visitors were back to Normandy to pay tribute to the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the US, Canada and other nations who landed there to bring freedom.

Amid the dozens of US veterans who are expected to attend is 97-year-old Ray Wallace, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division.

On D-Day, the plane bringing Wallace was hit and caught fire, forcing him to jump earlier than expected, about 20 miles away from the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise.

Wallace, who is using a wheelchair, was among about 20 World War II veterans who opened Sunday's parade to great applause from thousands of people, in a joyful atmosphere.

He did not hide his pleasure, happily waving to the crowd.

Many history amateurs, wearing military and civilian clothes from the period, also came for the re-enactment of the events.