D-Day is a that recognizes the sacrifice made by troops who fought during the Battle of Normandy that began on June 6, 1944. It is an important date in world history and in United States history that serves as a reminder of several countries’ power when uniting against another country’s evil corruption. When celebrating the holiday, it is important to know the exact origin, importance, and meaning of the holiday. 

According to AmericanVeteranSaid.com, “The Battle of Normandy is a famous battle that took place during World War II. It began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day.  Codenamed Operation Overlord, the Battle resulted in the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany. It was the biggest sea invasion in history. An estimated 4,400 Allied troops were killed on that day. A few months earlier, 700 soldiers were killed by Germans in a practice run for the invasion. There are different opinions about the meaning of the D in D-Day.  Some say the D simply stands for Day, a common designation used for any important military operation. According to Brigadier General Robert Schultz, General Eisenhower’s executive assistant in 1964, the D meant “departed date”, a term used for amphibious operations. During the Battle, approximately 156,000 soldiers from Canada, Britain, America, Belgium, Australia, France Greece, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia, Norway, the Netherlands and Rhodesia landed on a 50 mile stretch of beaches along the coast of Normandy in France. An additional 5,000 ships and 11,000 airplanes were also part of the landing. Within 11 months, and approximately 3 ½ years after the United States had entered the war, Germany was defeated.”

Conclusion

Understanding the importance behind military and war-related holidays is crucial to being a proactive citizen or military member and will give you more pride in the country that you are from. 2022 marks the 78th anniversary of the invasion that took place on D-Day and certainly an anniversary to celebrate and to understand deeply.