White House Releases Message on the 81st Anniversary of D-Day

As the world commemorates the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the White House shared a message to commemorate the day and honor the American and Allied forces who paid a tremendous price for their heroic actions.

From the White House:

In the pre-dawn hours of June 6, 1944, American and Allied forces stormed a 50-mile stretch of beach in Normandy, France, winning a crucial victory that turned the tide of World War II and changed the course of history.

The largest amphibious invasion in history—Operation Overlord—was achieved through meticulous planning, utilizing 13,000 aircraft and gliders, 23,400 paratroopers, 5,000 ships and landing craft, and roughly 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops. By nightfall, the valiance and intrepidity of the Allied soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and merchant mariners had carried the day, establishing beachheads on all five of the landing beaches – Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold, and Juno. This victory, though, was achieved at great cost. More than 9,000 Allied service members were killed or wounded that day, to ensure that freedom would once again prevail over the European continent.

On the 81st anniversary of D-day, we pause to pay homage to the warfighters whose indescribable valor, fierce determination, and unwavering patriotism delivered this pivotal victory for the global cause of freedom. The monumental victory forged on land, at sea, and in the skies of Normandy led to the liberation of Europe, the defeat of the evil Nazi regime, and the preservation of democracy.

We are grateful for those young men who answered their nations’ calls and faced the carnage of war in order to defeat tyranny—and we are eternally indebted to the souls who gave their lives in this noble struggle.

It is our solemn obligation to remember their heroic stories, honor their sacrifices, and ensure that the freedom for which they died for may never again be in peril.

The Department of Defense shared a powerful timeline of the extraordinary day when so many gave so much.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth commemorated the day with a video where he participated in PT at Omaha Beach.

You can take a 3-D tour of the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial here.  The site is the home to the gravesites of more than 9,300 American service members, most of whom lost their lives on D-Day and the ensuing operations.