History
GalleryWWII veterans commemorate 82nd anniversary of D-Day in Normandy
Stars and Stripes
June 6, 2026
World War II veterans attend the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, June 6, 2026, commemorating the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. The ceremony honored the service members who participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. (Christopher Osburn/U.S. Army)
Twenty-nine World War II veterans were on hand Saturday to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day on Saturday at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
Approximately 160,000 Allied troops — 73,000 of them Americans — landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944. An estimated 4,414 died, including 2,501 Americans.
“[To] the veterans of World War II who are here with us today, and those who did not come home, thank you — thank you for your courage, tenacity and grit that you showed the world on that day, and the days that followed,” said Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.
World War II veterans attend a D-Day commemoration ceremony at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, June 6, 2026. (Brandon Nelson/U.S. Army National Guard)
World War II veteran Staff Sgt. (Ret.) George Mullins, formerly of the 101st Airborne Division, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, is welcomed by families, volunteers and supporters upon arrival at Deauville–Normandie Airport, France, June 3, 2026. Mullins fought from Utah Beach through Saint‑Côme‑du‑Mont, Carentan, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and into Germany and Austria before his honorable discharge in 1945. (Phyleicia-Nicole Dais/U.S. Army)
A U.S. airman performs taps during a D-Day commemoration ceremony at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, June 6, 2026. (Brandon Nelson/U.S. Army National Guard)
World War II veterans are welcomed upon arrival at Deauville-Normandy Airport in Normandy, France, June 3, 2026. Veterans traveled to Normandy to attend events commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings and honor those who fought in World War II. (Christopher Osburn/U.S. Army)
World War II veterans arrive at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2026, to participate in ceremonies commemorating the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. The ceremony honored the sacrifice and legacy of Allied service members who participated in the invasion of Normandy during World War II. (Christopher Osburn/U.S. Army)
Attendees applaud World War II veteran Arthur Rose after he reads a letter he wrote following his survival of the D-Day landings during the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2026. The ceremony commemorating the 82nd anniversary of D-Day honored the sacrifice and legacy of Allied service members who participated in the invasion of Normandy during World War II. (Christopher Osburn/U.S. Army)
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, shares remarks during a D-Day commemoration ceremony at Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2026. (Brandon Nelson/U.S. Army National Guard)
A 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldier takes a moment with a headstone of an unknown soldier in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France, June 5, 2026. The Normandy American Cemetery is the final resting place for 9,388 U.S. service members, most of whom died during the D-Day landings and subsequent operations of World War II. (Brian Andries/U.S. Army)
Four U.S. Air Force C-130J Hercules conduct a fly-over during a D-Day 82 ceremony at Picauville, France, on June 2, 2026. Memorial garden in Picauville marks the location where 20 U.S. service members from the 37th Airlift Squadron died when their C-47 crashed during air operations supporting the Normandy landings. (Sabrina Fuller-Judd/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David Gardner, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) greets World War II and Vietnam War veterans during a commemoration ceremony at the “Cabbage Patch” (Carré de Choux) memorial in Carentan, France, June 3, 2026. The ceremony paid tribute to the historic actions of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Normandy. (Paul O’Daniel/U.S. Army)
A parachutist delivers the game ball to start the Remembrance Bowl in Normandy, France, June 4, 2026. The commemorative football game recognizes the legacy of American airborne forces and pays tribute to those who fought during the D-Day invasion in 1944. (Catessa Palone/U.S. Navy)
Big Red One soldiers pose with veterans during the Master Sgt. Charles Shay Memorial Ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on June 5, 2026. The ceremony honored Shay, a 1st Infantry Division combat medic who earned a Silver Star for his actions on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion. (Joshua Fish/U.S. Army)
U.S. Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany salute during the 8th Air Force ceremony in commemoration of D-Day 82 at Sainte-Mére-Église, France, June 4, 2026. (Sabrina Fuller-Judd/U.S. Air Force)
The U.S. Army Europe and Africa color guard renders honors during the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2026, commemorating the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. (Christopher Osburn/U.S. Army)
U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment salute during a ceremony in Normandy, France, during the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, June 3, 2026. Operation Overlord was the largest invasion in U.S. history. (Samuel Dreher/U.S. Army)
French and American flags mark each gravestone at the Normandy American Cemetery during a D-Day 82 commemoration in Normandy, France, June 6, 2026. (Joe Legros/U.S. Army)
Maj. Gen. Patrick Ellis, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division; and Spc. Rylee Parker, assigned to the 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4ID, pay tribute during a D-Day 82 Memorial Ceremony, Quinéville, Normandy, June 05, 2026. The event memorialized the sacrifices of 4th Infantry Division Soldiers during the D-Day landings to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. (William Rogers/U.S. Army)
Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were among the speakers.
Also on hand was 107-year-old Art Rose, a Navy veteran and engineering officer at Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion.
Rose read a letter he had written to his parents on June 11, 1944. Rose expressed his fear of the unknown before the invasion, the letter ended with a positive message.
Reading from the letter, Rose said: “What a country we are. I will always be grateful to my commander for taking me along [to battle]. Don’t worry about me. I am well, whole and happy. Love, Art.”