D-Day vets hope new generation learns from WWII

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – While President Biden is in Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, thousands gathered at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., to commemorate that day.

James Behrend landed on Juno Beach in Normandy, France 80 years ago, today. He’s one of the few surviving veterans who fought to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe on D-Day.

“Well I had just turned 18 when Pearl Harbor happened. And I was stunned,” Behrend said.

Behrend remembers joining the Navy after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

“And then after a while when it started to sink in, I thought, I’m ready to go, and so I enlisted,” Behrend said.

Colonel Frank Cohn served in France not long after.

“Ended up on Omaha Beach about three months later as an infantry replacement,” Cohn said.

Cohn said he wants Americans to remember what was at stake in World War II.

“Hopefully the new generation will pick this up and will understand they really brought freedom to us,” Cohn said.

While D-Day was a critical turning point of WWII, each of the 4,048 stars on the Freedom Wall at the Memorial represent 100 U.S. servicemembers who died in the war.

That includes DeRonda Elliott’s father, Franklin.

“He tripped a mine that had been planted there by Rommel’s troops,” Elliott said.

She now shares her father’s story and encourages others to never forget those who fought for freedom.

“We have to remember how much it took to win that war, how many lives were lost, how many people were wounded, how many people have PTSD, I mean, and we can’t forget those things because that’s why we’re free today,” Elliott said.

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