Eighty-one years ago today, the world held its breath as more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy in the largest amphibious invasion in history. D-Day wasn’t just a turning point in World War II—it was a moment when thousands of young men looked fear in the face and stepped forward anyway.
They were barely older than high school graduates. Farm kids from Indiana. City boys from Chicago. Sons, brothers, husbands, neighbors. They had no idea what would happen when the landing crafts opened. They only knew they had a job to do—and they did it.
Some never came home. Others carried the memories with them for a lifetime, often silent about what they saw. If you’re lucky, you might still know someone who was there. If not, you certainly live in the world they helped save.
It’s easy to let days like this pass by as just another date on the calendar. But today isn’t just history—it’s legacy. It’s sacrifice. It’s courage.
And maybe most of all, it’s a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy—like driving to work, voting, turning on the radio, or disagreeing out loud—were bought at a very high price.
Here in Southeastern Indiana, we remember. We honor those who served, those who didn’t come back, and those who supported them from home. We remember D-Day not just as something that happened, but as something that still matters.
Today, take a moment. Say a prayer. Teach your kids. Fly your flag. And maybe thank a veteran—not just for what they did, but for what they stood ready to do.
Because freedom, as they say, isn’t free.