Veterans, families mark 74 years since Allied D-Day landings

Caption from the U.S. Coast Guard: "The Jaws of Death." A photo by CPHOM Robert F. Sargent, USCG. A Coast Guard-manned LCVP from the U.S.S. Samuel Chase disembarks troops of Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division on the morning of 6 June 1944 at Omaha Beach.

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) — Families of fallen soldiers and dwindling numbers of veterans of the D-Day invasion gathered on the Normandy shore Wednesday to mark 74 years since the massive military operation that helped change the course of World War II.

Powerful gusts of wind blew through a heavy mist as relatives and others paid respects at the American military cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, above the sandy expanse known as Omaha Beach.

Ceremonies have been held this week at memorial sites along the cliffs and sandy expanse where Allied forces landed in Nazi-occupied France.

Thousands of U.S., British, Canadian and French troops launched a combined naval, air and land assault as dawn was breaking on June 6, 1944. The invasion weakened the Nazis’ hold on Western Europe after they suffered a punishing defeat in Stalingrad in the east.

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American tourists and Dutch military history enthusiasts were among those visiting the memorial sites Wednesday, mingling with families of victims of the Battle of Normandy buried in cemeteries sprinkled around the region.

This year’s commemorations were relatively low-key, while bigger events are planned for the 75th anniversary next year.

At the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, the museum held its Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day Commemoration Ceremony

This ceremony commemorated the 74th anniversary of D-Day and includes a Legion of Honor presentation to WWII veterans. The ceremony will also feature WWII veteran Bill Clark, President of The Naval Minewarfare Association.

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The Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day Commemoration Endowment ensures that Dr. Baumgarten’s legacy will live on in perpetuity and helps the Museum fulfill its mission to educate future generations about the events of World War II and its lasting impacts.

The Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day Commemoration Endowment is made possible by the generous gift of Karen and Leopold Sher.

Watch Dr. Baumgarten’s Museum oral history here. An archived video of Dr. Baumgarten speaking at a Meet the Author event is below. Watch the 74th anniversary ceremony here.