“Operation Overlord is the staunchest of reminders that joint and allied warfare, though challenging and complex, is critical to achieving our shared objectives,” Tierney said. They trained at some of the same locations that we trained, during our pre-deployment train-up.”įrench resistance fighters conducted more than 1,000 acts of sabotage June 5-6 and made countless intelligence reports that helped shape the success of the allied invasion of Normandy, Tierney said. “Roanoke, Bedford, Christiansburg, Charlottesville and Lynchburg. “They hailed from the same locations across Virginia and Maryland,” he said. Jim Tierney, Task Force Red Dragon commander, talked about the importance of remembering the historic date and its significance to the Virginia Army National Guardsmen. Nick Roland, executive officer for Task Force Red Dragon, gave a brief history of the 116th’s role in the D-Day landings. This year marks the 78th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. But their courage and bravery helped create a foothold that allowed follow-on forces to continue the assault and set the stage for Allied victory in Europe. More than 1,000 members of the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, were killed, wounded or missing in action during the assault on Omaha Beach. The 116th Infantry Regiment accounted for 79 percent of the 29th Division’s casualties and approximately one-fifth of all American casualties that day. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, those same men comprised the spearhead of the 29th Infantry Division’s force that stormed Omaha Beach. military history, fighting in every major war since the American Revolution. Task Force Red Dragon is made up primarily of the 116th Infantry Regiment, which has a longstanding and honored place in U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, hosted a D-Day commemoration and ruck march June 6 to remember the sacrifices of Allied forces during the storming of the Normandy beachhead during World War II. Paying tribute to the men and women who served their country in one of its most dire battles, the D-Day National Memorial creates a solemn atmosphere for veterans and visitors alike to gain insight and learn more about the events that shaped our nation’s and our world’s history.CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti. The grounds for the monument take visitors on a archival journey through World War II and the politics and perils that embody the time period. Today, as America dedicates our D-Day Memorial, we pray that our country will always be worthy of the courage that delivered us from evil and saved the free world.” And all of us incurred a debt that can never be repaid. Bush in his dedication speech, “Fifty-seven years ago, America and the nations of Europe formed a bond that has never been broken. The arch is highlighted by a reflecting pool that surrounds a captivating scene that is symbolic of the arduous trudge soldiers made onto the blood stained beaches of Normandy, France.Īs stated by President George W. At its center stands a monumental forty-four foot tall arch, embellished by the military name, “Overlord,” that was given to the crucial operation. Robert “Bob” Slaughter, the structure encompasses more than 50 acres at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The monument receives an average of 60,000 visitors a year and is a profound addition to America’s War Memorials. Bush, the National D-Day Memorial was constructed in honor of those who died that day, fighting in one of the most significant battles in our nations history. Dedicated on June 6th, 2001 by president George W. On June 6th, 1944 United States soldiers, in one of the most pivotal battles of World War II, invaded the French coastline in order to propel German soldiers out of Western Europe and lead the way for victory against the tyrants of that era.
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