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D-Day falls on Sunday, June 6, 2027. That is 222 days away.

D-Day marks the Allied invasion of Normandy, in northern France, during World War II. Troops from the United States, Britain, Canada and other Allied nations landed on a stretch of coastline under heavy fire, while paratroopers dropped inland in the dark hours before.

The landing beaches were given code names. American forces came ashore at Utah and Omaha, and Omaha in particular became known for how costly the fighting was. Ships, landing craft and aircraft supported the assault in one of the largest seaborne operations ever attempted.

The landings opened a western front in Europe and began the long push that led to the liberation of France. Many who took part were young, some barely out of school, and many did not return.

The day is usually marked quietly. Veterans' groups and towns hold ceremonies, museums and libraries share letters and photographs, and families remember relatives who served. Near the coast of Normandy, an American cemetery holds the graves of thousands of service members, laid out in long rows above the beach.

Few people who landed that day are still living. Their accounts survive in recorded interviews, kept so that later generations can hear them in their own words.

Ways to honor this day

• Display a flag at home in remembrance.
• Attend a local ceremony or veterans' event.
• Listen to a recorded oral history from a D-Day veteran.
• Write a note of thanks to a veteran or service member.
• Visit a local war memorial and pause for a moment.

Dates

All national days on June 6

Categories: History daysCommemorative days