Who and where were those who once had said the american was no soldier, that he would not fight . World, events were swiftly gaining momentum. Army dropped armydays later, the first occupied cologne. That, 300 of our fortresses of our forces lasted tokyo. Blasted tokyo. By the 17th of the same month, general Pattons Third Army had taken. The next day, and half a world away, our troops invaded the island in the central philippines. That, the third army crossed the rhine. Four days later, the eighth army was landing in the philippines. [explosions] less than a week after that, on april 1, 1945, the u. S. 10th army invaded okinawa. On the 11th of the same month, the Second Armored Division of the night army reached 63 miles from berlin. Thir on the 12th of april, president Franklin Delano roosevelt had yet to see the triumphant advances of american arms but fate denied him the satisfaction the final victory would bring. Afterhan a month president roosevelts death, germany surrendered. Was
At normandy, a special gallery for us here because our museum was originally founded back in 1990s at the National Dday museum by a congressional charter. We were charged with telling the story of the entire American Experience in world war ii, why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today, and so, in this gallery, we get to the big moment where the United States and her allies had to win this particular day. Dday, june 6, 1944. Behind me is our film, merited by tom brokaw narrated by tom brokaw, which gives our visitors the overarching story of dday at normandy, but next to me, over here on the left, a very special exhibit. This is an exhibit case that is dedicated to the long, thin line of english. Bernie pyle walked the beach is where the American Forces landed and he saw all of the d etritus of war at the beach. What we have in this case is actual artifacts and sand from utah and omaha beaches. He writes about what he found. You can see he talks about shoe polish, show
Days the u. S. Army Heritage Education center in carlisle pennsylvania. ,at this event, this is a major complex on the Army Heritage trail. One can find living historians from all kinds of time periods, from the 17th century up to the present. My group is here this weekend to discuss the 75th anniversary of the normandy invasion, which is taking place this summer. And we thought it certainly fitting to commemorate that event. And us putting on these old uniforms, wearing old equipment, it certainly gives us a better perspective and appreciation of what the greatest generation went through. And if we can impart even a small inkling of that to passerbys and families who visit this place then we feel , like we have done a good job. The unit we portray is the Fourth Infantry Division. It is a unit that is sometimes overshadowed in the realm of world war ii history. Nevertheless, it was one of the spearhead units involved in the normandy invasion. It was some of the first amphibious troops
Good. Splendid. Perfect. New orleans. Morning to all of you. And welcome to the National World war two museum and, our new and lovely battle, barksdale Parade Ground on behalf the board of trustees of the National World war two museum. I want to thank you for honoring us with your presence here today. It is indeed a momentous day in the life of this great institution. With the opening of the liberation, we finally tell the full story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world, a story that now includes words, an understanding of the cost of victory and its meaning. Today, with the opening of this capstone pavilion and we bring to completion a journey that began 23 years ago, or as our founder nick mueller would more accurate aptly states. If you include its inception as a mere idea and ten years of planning, 33 years. But on june six, 2000, the 56 anniversary of the dday invasion, we gathered nearby to celebrate the opening of the National Dday museum and the beginnin
Good. Splendid. Perfect. New orleans. Morning to all of you. And welcome to the National World war two museum and, our new and lovely battle, barksdale Parade Ground on behalf the board of trustees of the National World war two museum. I want to thank you for honoring us with your presence here today. It is indeed a momentous day in the life of this great institution. With the opening of the liberation, we finally tell the full story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world, a story that now includes words, an understanding of the cost of victory and its meaning. Today, with the opening of this capstone pavilion and we bring to completion a journey that began 23 years ago, or as our founder nick mueller would more accurate aptly states. If you include its inception as a mere idea and ten years of planning, 33 years. But on june six, 2000, the 56 anniversary of the dday invasion, we gathered nearby to celebrate the opening of the National Dday museum and the beginnin