The White House released a presidential message on June 6 to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, recognizing the Allied forces’ historic landing at Normandy during World War II. The statement recalls that on June 6, 1944, soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force launched Operation Overlord, described as “the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare,” which was aimed at breaking Nazi Germany’s control over Europe.
The message details how American soldiers stormed Omaha and Utah beaches under heavy fire and pressed forward through difficult conditions. It highlights specific acts such as United States Army Rangers scaling Pointe du Hoc under enemy fire to silence German guns threatening the invasion force. According to the statement, “Supported by massive aerial campaigns and over 23,000 airborne troops, American, British, and Canadian forces together secured all 5 beachheads across 50 miles of French coastline, landing over 150,000 troops by nightfall.” By the end of June that year, nearly a million Allied troops had moved through Normandy.
The White House notes that this operation came at a high cost: “Over 10,000 Allied servicemen were killed, wounded or reported missing in a single day,” including more than 2,500 Americans who lost their lives. The statement says these individuals answered their country’s call without hesitation and contributed significantly to ending fascism in Europe.
On this anniversary date, America’s Greatest Generation is honored for confronting tremendous evil. The presidential message calls their actions “the eternal measure of what Americans are made of,” describing their legacy as forged in war and carried forward by subsequent generations.
The message concludes with a call for rededication: “Today we rededicate ourselves to preserving what they secured,” emphasizing confidence in America’s armed forces fighting for freedom.