In 2009 I was lucky enough to go to the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings although I was 11 years too late in joining the British Army ( Royal Army Medical Corps) the 'REAL' Veterans I spoke to said " YES you can MARCH with US in Remembrance of those Mates who didn't Make it "
My father landed on Sword Beach on D Day he was very sea sick, he told me his company sergeant major was the only British soldier to win a Victoria Cross on that day.