American soldiers land on the French coast in Normandy during the D-Day invasion, 06 Jun 1944

The success of the Allied landings on Normandy’s beaches 65 years ago spelled the beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. But, while many people today know of D-Day from history books or movies, fewer and fewer people remain who were alive when it happened and fewer still who witnessed the dramatic event.

National World War II Museum Vice President Sam Wegner says the 65th anniversary of D-Day provides an opportunity to honor those who fought in the war while they are still around. "There were 16 million Americans who served in uniform in World War II and that number is down to a little over II million Americans now. The U.S. World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 900 a day," he said.

Wegner says the June 6 events planned at the museum include a ceremony focused on the surviving veterans and their families. "On Saturday afternoon we are going to be doing a ceremony called ‘A Gathering of the Greatest Generation, a Roll Call of the American Fighting Man of World War II.’ We have invited down World War II veterans and their families and, in some instances, we will have the families of the veterans, since the
veteran has since passed on," he said.

Since it was founded as the D-Day Museum nine years ago, the site near downtown New Orleans has received over 2 million visitors, including many veterans of the war and their family members.