Remembering D-Day 1944

The Normandy Region – June 6^th 1944 …

Normandy and 4 other beaches were the sites of the landing of some 156,000 British, American and Canadian Allied forces in northern France, over 50-miles of heavily fortified coastline occupied by Nazi German forces.  The region was divided into 5 sectors known as:  Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword Beach.  It was the largest such amphibious landing in history.  Aircraft, numbering over 11,000, were mobilized to provide air cover and support.  Less than a week later, the beaches were totally secured.  Within weeks, over 1 million invading Allied forces would land.

 

CREDIT: U.S. Maritime Commission. "Bird's-eye view of landing craft, barrage balloons, and allied troops landing in Normandy, France on D-Day." June 6, 1944. New York World-Telegram and Sun Collection. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

This was the event that began to turn the tide in favor of the Allied forces in World War II.  And this was the sacrifice:

Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission

Normandy American Cemetery today …

This cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach and the English Channel.  It was the first US cemetery to be established in Europe (June 8, 1944) and holds the graves of more than 9,300 US servicemen who dies in the D-Day invasion or subsequent missions.

Normandy Beach, France today … an historic and picturesque region.  Beautiful architecture, rolling green landscape with lovely views, the occasional farmhouse and cows. 

Today we stop to honor the brave men and women who sacrificed and struggled to free a suffering humanity and preserve our way of life.  Today, and in the future, we will support our active duty military and our Veterans of the armed forces … and we will remember.

Credit:  The History Channel and http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day