Wellington  - New Zealand veterans of the 1944 Normandy landings, which were a turning point in World War II, vowed Sunday to keep going despite their international organization closing down because too many members have died.

Thirty representatives of veterans from Britain, France, Canada, the United States and New Zealand who took part in the assault on France's northern coast - which remains the largest amphibious military operation ever attempted - held a commemorative service Sunday in Wellington.

The international Normandy Veterans Association (NVA) has decided its membership is falling too fast to continue past the 65th anniversary of the landings in June, said David Christison, president of the New Zealand branch.

He told Radio New Zealand that the New Zealand members had decided to carry on until the last man has to "turn out the light," adding, "The NVA has enabled them to enjoy the continuity of comradeship, remembrance and support for those in need."

The general secretary of the association, Peter Hodge, said the sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of young people who landed on D-Day in 1944 must be honoured and never forgotten, however few veterans still survive. (dpa)