Flanked by war veterans, U.S. President Barack Obama and his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, commemorated the Allied D-Day landings on Friday, marking the 70th anniversary of the historic military invasion.

At the Normandy American Cemetery, Obama praised the bravery of the 160,000 U.S., British and Canadian troops who waded ashore to confront Nazi Germany's forces.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:

"I am honored to return here today to pay tribute to the men and women of a generation who defied every danger. Among them are veterans of D-Day, and gentlemen, we are truly humbled by your presence here today."

It was on June 6, 1944 that those troops arrived, hastening their eventual victory over the Nazis.

Obama and Hollande held a moment of silence and toured one of the beaches where the battles took place.

It was there in Normandy, where 90-year-old Thomas Hewlett of Liverpool landed.

He was among 3,000 veterans