Now the "exceptional survivor" will be restored to its original appearance with the multimillion- pound investment from the National Lottery, timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the
D-Day landings in two years' time.
The writings on
D-Day by historians Cornelius Ryan and Stephen E.
But to commemorate the 70th anniversary of
D-Day, it is being awarded to veterans who helped in the liberation of France.
George was a Parachute Regiment sergeant who took part in the
D-Day landings - crossing the English Channel in a glider before dropping behind enemy lines.
Charles commissioned the portraits after attending the 70th anniversary
D-Day commemorations in Normandy last summer, to ensure an artistic record remained of those who fought during the campaign to liberate Europe from Hitler.
Inside the cathedral was British
D-Day veteran Victor Mackenzie, 91, who was aged 20 when he served with the Royal Army Service Corps on
D-Day.
John Coode, 89, has been told he must wait until next year to receive his prestigious Legion D'Honneur from the French government for his bravery on
D-Day.
A message sent to top brass on May 19, 1944, substituted Halcyon for
D-Day and Hornpipe for Operation Overlord.
My wife Colleen and I are in Normandy with my Reagan Legacy Foundation, which raised money to help send 14 veterans of
D-Day back to France to celebrate an important day in history that too few Americans younger than 60 know anything about.
They have recorded the bulletin scripts that were read out as the Allied forces landed in Normandy for
D-Day, 70 years ago.
D-Day has been used for many different operations but is most closely associated with the Allied landings on Normandy's beaches on June 6 1944.
The food, including the spice cake, is being prepared using original recipes from the 1940s Liz Herring, sales and marketing manager for Aspen, says: "Many of our homeowners at Eastbank Court were children or young adults at the time of the original
D-Day Landings and even the younger ones will remember tales from their parents.
D-day - date of the Allied landing in France, World War II