[cyn]

As you say.

And, "...stark visual reminder of the civilians, Germans and allied forces..." -- pffft, why the Germans? they were why our soldiers & the civilians died! Someone didn't think that one through.

[servo1969]

It’s about ‘Peace Day’ or something so I guess it’s really meant as a protest against war.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Those defending the beaches were by and large just soldiers, not the proverbial “nazi zombies” of today's video games. Its not wrong to honor their memory, but the circumstances of the war simply cannot be ignored. It would be more appropriate to hold a separate ceremony for the German dead.

[RobinOfKingston]

... pffft, why the Germans?

My father-in-law, Oskar Py (I know, not a German surname), was a German soldier in WWII. He was a small cog in the vast machinery of the Eastern Front. Oskar was lucky, he was taken prisoner by the Russians, and spent over three years as their "guest." Oskar was a good man. He later raised two good daughters. It was my privilege marry one of them, and to share 43 years of life with her. I lost her in August of 2011.

Germany produced honorable men who were then our enemies. Among the best known, or perhaps just the highest ranking, was Erwin Rommel, but, there were many others. (Rommel was forced to commit suicide as a result of his participation in the attempt to assassinate Hitler.)