This year marks the 80th Anniversary of “Operation Overlord”, the invasion of Europe by the Allied Expeditionary Forces at Normandy, France on June 6th, 1944. It was the largest combined air and sea military operation ever conducted at the time, involving 5,333 Allied ships and landing craft, 175,000 men landing ashore, and 20,000 paratroopers dropped from 1,200 aircraft after 2,200 aircraft conducted bombing, recon, and attacks against German forces prior to the invasion.
As of 2023, approximately 119,000 veterans of World War II survive, with 131 Veterans dying every day. About 150 of them are at Normandy today, including 12 who landed on the beaches on D-Day.
On this day let’s not forget the sacrifices made by those who fought to preserve Freedom on that day.
American Military Cemetery, Normandy, France (Reuters Photo)
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