On June 6, 1944, 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces landed on the shores of Normandy. As the largest seaborne invasion in history, D-Day acted as a major turning point in liberating Europe from Nazi control. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the ways we are able to honor those who stormed the beaches, but we are still able to remember their bravery and sacrifice, 76 years later.

This year, you can participate in D-Day Memorial events from the comfort of your own home via these six virtual events.

1. U.S. European Command will highlight D-Day virtually on Friday, June 5, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Programming will include a discussion with historians from France, the United States, and the United Kingdom about the history of D-Day and the part it played in the success of the Allied war effort.

 

[LOOKING BACK: D-DAY 75]

 

2. The National WWII Museum in New Orleans will hold a selection of webinars, live performances, and commemoration ceremonies online in honor of the anniversary. The schedule includes a conversation with a D-Day veteran, an event featuring the museum’s founding president, and a performance by the Victory Six Swing Band. Click the links for times, dates, and registration details.

 

3. The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., will host a virtual commemoration on June 6 at 11 a.m. Eastern. The video will stream at DDay.org/virtual76 as well as on the Memorial’s Facebook page. Dedicated by President George W. Bush in 2001, the memorial is closed to the public because of coronavirus concerns; you can learn more about it here.

 

4. The Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, Texas, will host a virtual event on D-Day beginning at 8 a.m. Central time (9 a.m. Eastern). The organization highlights the use of 500 gliders during the invasion and how they were vital in the Allied forces gaining a critical foothold. The museum will also share additional content, such as games and videos, that will be posted on their social media channels throughout the day.

 

5. The Eisenhower Presidential Library will host an online event June 11 at 2 p.m. Eastern featuring historians and the library’s curator. Discussions will revolve around the question of how the Allies maintained the offensive after a successful landing in Normandy, showcasing the Mulberry Harbor model featured in newly renovated library exhibits. The library itself, located in Abeline, Kan., is currently closed to the public.

 

6. Friends of the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be moving celebrations online. You may access their library of commemorative videos or participate by sending a message to a World War II veteran.

Interested in more memorial events?  MOAA will be supporting the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover on Sept. 25, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. About 100 aircraft are set to take part in the skies over Washington, D.C.; many of the airframes that will participate are featured in the May issue of Military Officer magazine, which is available online here (member login required).