France’s Flame of Liberty Honors 80th Anniversary of D-Day at Arlington

A Sentinel from the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," marches past the tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a change of guard at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on May 26, 2024. The event known as Flowers of Remembrance Day is part of Memorial Day weekend events honoring US fallen service members. Memorial Day in the US is celebrated on the last Monday of May.

A candle lit from France’s Flame of Liberty arrived at Arlington National Cemetery on May 24, just ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, and will burn there until June 6th — the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord: D-Day.

French President Emmanuel Macron lit the candle on May 8 — from the Flamme de la Liberté at the Arc de Triomphe.

The candle was then carried by a special delegation from Paris to the U.K., then across the Atlantic to New York Harbor aboard the Queen Mary 2, and finally to Arlington. France’s flame has been burning since 1923, when it was established as part of a memorial at their tomb of the unknown soldier shortly after the end of World War I.

Helen Ayer Patton, granddaughter of General George S. Patton, was part of the delegation and she told The Daily Wire that the journey itself was not without surprises.

The week at sea passed pleasantly enough, she said, and the views of the Statue of Liberty and Freedom Tower as they approached were stunning.

When the Queen Mary docked, even the ship’s staff commented on how smooth the trip had been — one of the smoothest journeys ever. But just as they began to disembark, the skies opened up and a deluge swept through the city. They were forced to return to the ship to weather the storm — a move that Patton said may have literally saved lives.

They were scheduled to hold a ceremony on shore immediately after they docked, but the tents that were set up to accommodate the ceremony collapsed in the storm. If the delegation had already been under the tents — a delegation that included several D-Day veterans, one of whom is over 100 years old — someone could have been seriously injured or worse.

Patton shared the same story on her Facebook page a short time later, concluding, “Thank you to the powers that be for restoring good weather just in time when we needed it … God winks!”

This flame at Arlington not only honors the bravery of those who stormed the beaches of Normandy but also serves as a reminder of the enduring alliance between the United States and France. It's a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience, burning brightly as we remember those who sacrificed so much for our liberty.

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