Maryland National Guard Celebrates D-Day 80th Celebration in Normandy
D-Day 80th Anniversary
MARYLAND – Today marks Operation D- Day, the Allied invasion of France, and the beginning of the end of World War II and the Holocaust.
Eighty years ago on June 6, 1944, land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies banned together in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.
The Maryland National Guard played a critical role in liberating France. Salisbury’s 115th Military Police Battalion served in WWII as infantry and earned the Presidential Unit citation. The soldiers who fought that day are being honored for their sacrifice, and the Battalion commander of the 1-175th Infantry Regiment, Lt. Col Alexi Franklin, spoke to us from the grounds where the descendants of soldiers are honoring current service members. He speaks of the sacrifices that many soldiers made, those who were both injured and killed and says that these shoes are hard to fill.
“The soldiers that predate me by 80 years in this very battalion, were part of the Maryland National Guard and helped liberate this part of France… So, 1944 and 2024, unfortunately, have a lot in common. and we can’t do anything without our allies, we can’t do anything without our friends and there are a lot of important lessons in the lead-up to World War II and the execution of World War II that are very relevant today.”
The Maryland National Guard unit is currently in Normandy, France for its 80th Anniversary Celebration and they wear the Presidential Unit Citation on their uniform to this day.
