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Parkersburg observance marks 80th anniversary of D-Day

By Douglass Huxley 2 min read

PARKERSBURG -- On June 6, 1944, a combined force of 160,000 British, American and Canadian troops landed across a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coastline on five beaches: Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah.

This began the invasion of mainland France during World War II and remains the largest amphibious operation in military history.

"We need to honor these guys for what they went through," Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans member Jerry Smith said.

Members of the Marine Corps League and the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans group, along with some Vietnam veterans, friends and family, gathered at Sunset Memory Gardens Thursday in remembrance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Allied casualties during the assault were documented for at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.

'Freedom isn't free," Smith said. "It's paid for in blood."

Smith said it was important to continue to honor those who sacrificed everything. He said this was especially important for the younger generation.

"The Boy Scouts come down here (to Sunset Memory Gardens) and place flags on the graves of veterans. And that's a good way to learn about them and honor them," Smith said.

He said he has gotten to visit many WWII veterans over the years and they always had a good story to tell.

"It's just an honor to have known them," Smith said. "There's not many of them left."

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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