Thursday marked 80 years since D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history. World War II veterans and the American Battle Monuments Commission commemorated the day in Normandy, France.
One hundred fifty World War II U.S. veterans, along with volunteers and representatives from the American Battle Monuments Commission , were present at Normandy American Cemetery in France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day — June 6, 1944 — on Thursday.
historian and Army veteran Benjamin Brands spoke to Fox News Digital from Normandy for background on Operation Overlord, the official code name behind the largest amphibious invasion in history. 'It really was the beginning of the Allied effort to defeat Nazi Germany in Europe... all the subsequent battles were made possible by the bravery and the sacrifice on D-Day,' Brands said. The
is a small federal agency that was established by Congress in 1923 to 'honor the service, achievements and sacrifice of U.S. Armed Forces.' AMERICAN AIRLINES KICKS OFF D-DAY 80TH ANNIVERSARY TRIP FOR WORLD WAR II VETERANS TO NORMANDY The operates and maintains 26 permanent American cemeteries in 17 countries, the majority of which are dedicated to veterans of World Wars I and II. Normandy American Cemetery, which stands directly above Omaha Beach, is the final resting place for more than 9,000 veterans. It is also where the D-Day 80th anniversary ceremonies took place on Thursday. Brands shared that the cemetery's location is of key importance, in that 'of the five invasion beaches, Omaha was by far the bloodiest.
Brands added that 'this year people feel that very powerfully, because more and more World War II veterans are passing every day.' 'By the 85th anniversary, I don't know that we won't have any left alive, but I doubt that there will be any that are able to travel to France. So I think that is giving this year's commemoration a special power,' he said.
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