Jun 14, 2017 3 min read

I got a call from an acquaintance a few days ago asking if I would write a column about something. When I asked the subject, he mentioned the anniversary of D-Day. How could I have forgotten? Last Tuesday, June 6, marked the 73rd anniversary of the invasion of Normandy during World War II, and several local veterans noticed there wasn’t much mention of it in the news.

One of those vets was Joe Mancuso of Washington. He remembers D-Day because he was there, crossing the English Channel with the Allies while serving in the U.S. Navy. Mancuso is 95 years old now, and we owe it to him, other surviving World War II veterans and the memory of those who have passed on to mark the occasion and historic assault that turned the tide of the war in Europe.

The Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944, was the largest seaborne invasion in history and was instrumental in the eventual Allied victory over German forces in Western Europe. The operation took more than 3,000 reconnaissance missions and over a year to plan. By air, more than 24,000 airborne troops dropped behind enemy lines. By sea, more than 73,000 American troops joined with British and Canadian forces to fight the Nazis. Weather, tides and moon phases were all crucial to the operation, and the conditions proved to be less than ideal. However, postponing was not an option since it would have meant a delay of weeks.

Aerial assaults began just after midnight, with infantry and armored divisions landing in the early morning hours. Fifty miles of France’s coast was divided into five sectors (Omaha, Juno, Gold, Sword and Utah beaches). Omaha Beach saw the heaviest casualties, with the sand strewn with obstacles and mines. The Allies captured only two of those beaches that first day, yet the operation allowed them to take the first step toward eventual victory.

In all, more than 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy, including some 209,000 Allied casualties. Joe Mancuso was one of the lucky ones who made it back home and was honored a few years ago with one of France’s highest honors: the Legion d’Honneur created by Napoleon in 1802.

In the daily hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it’s easy to forget historic dates. But we mustn’t forget major events in history or those who participated in them – those who sacrificed so much to give us everything we regularly take for granted. If you forgot that last Tuesday was the anniversary of D-Day, then take time today to remember, say a prayer for those who lost their lives in the monumental battle and give thanks to brave souls like Joe Mancuso who did their duty that day and fought bravely to keep us the land of the free.

Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.