Remembering and honoring the heroics of soldiers on D-Day
Eighty-one years after Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, the heroics and sacrifices of those soldiers are remembered and honored.
The D-Day invasion, the largest seaborne invasion in history, led to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II. Many of those who fought have since passed away, leaving their legacy to new generations.
'It's important to remember that day and because it's sort of the focus point… it's also the many lives that were lost on the day and in the days to follow to free Europe,' said Bill Welch, Vice President of Erie County Memorial Park.
Bill Welch spoke in front of the Erie County World War II Memorial, dedicated to the 727 Erie County soldiers who died during the war.
Welch expressed concern about whether the memory of these sacrifices is fading, noting that it is up to current generations to educate those who follow about the importance of these sacrifices.
Vietnam veteran Mike Rohan emphasized the importance of remembering those who fought for the country long before he was born, highlighting the enduring significance of their actions.
As the years pass, the responsibility to remember and honor the sacrifices made on D-Day falls to future generations, ensuring that the lessons and legacy of those who fought continue to be recognized.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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