President Bush is in Europe June 4-6 for a series of meetings and ceremonial events. The activities in Rome on June 4 mark the liberation of that city by Allied forces during World War II. The president's visit to the Italian capital also includes an audience with Pope John Paul II, during which he presents the pontiff with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor. In Paris on June 5, President Bush meets with French President Jacques Chirac. And on June 6 he travels to Normandy for the observance of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion that was the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe. |