East Central Reporter

State Rep. Charles E. Meier (R-Highland) wrote to acknowledge 79th anniversary of the D-Day invasion with a post on his House website.

"79 years ago today, Allied troops stormed the heavily fortified coast of Normandy to liberate Western Europe from the evil, tyranny, and oppression of Nazi control," Meier wrote. "On this important anniversary we remember the bravery of the greatest generation and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom."

According to a post by the History Channel, the D-Day invasion at Normandy “was the largest naval, air, and land operation in history.” June 5, 1944, was the initial date picked for the invasion, although the commencement of what they called “Operation Overlord” was delayed by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower due to weather.

Normandy was chosen, partly due to the proximity for air cover, as well as the lack of heavy defense, over another site, Pas de Calais. Six divisions landed that day: one from Canada, two from Britain, and three from the U.S., according to Army reports. An additional three divisions landed in the coming days, the post stated.

The U.S. Department of Defense shared part of speeches by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They were in France to speak during a service at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France. "To the veterans of World War II: We salute you," Austin said. "You saved the world. We must merely defend it."

The Library of Congress also offers firsthand narratives of veterans who served in the U.S. military since World War I, and the Veterans History Project has also preserved the collections of veterans since 2000. The collection includes documents and stories from the invasion on the beaches of Normandy and beyond the beaches – airborne troops parachuted in, officers stayed in ships and small landing craft too. The collection also includes information on what they call "D Day Plus 1, Plus 2," which looks at the waves of troops who hit the beaches after the initial wave.