Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States to remember the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May, was held on May 30 from 1868-1971. It marks the start of the unofficial summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. (Courtesy of WikipediA)
The Normandy American Cemetery, overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, was established on June 8, 1944, as the first U.S. cemetery in Europe during World War II. It holds the graves of more than 9,300 U.S. servicemen who died in the D-Day invasion or subsequent missions.
During World War II (1939-1945), the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. Code-named Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, Canadian and British forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of Normandy France. The invasion was possibly have been the largest amphibious military assault in history, requiring complex planning. More than 5,000 ships and landing craft carrying troops and supplies left England for the trip across the Channel to Normandy, France, while more than 11,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion. The Allies conducted a large-scale and complicated campaign of deception intended to mislead the Germans about the invasion point. The Allied deception campaign, led by General Dwight Eisenhower was done so well that the Germans did not know if the invasion was to occur at Pas-de-Calais, Normandy, Norway or other locations. By September 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and the Allies had defeated the Germans by the spring of 1945.
Those gallant World War II servicemen buried at Normandy deserve our gratitude and respect for they all were heroes defending freedom against tyranny. May they Rest in Peace.
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