The Battleship North Carolina, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will be illuminated on the evening of Saturday, June 6, in observance of the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II.
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in military history. More than 156,000 troops crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, facing intense enemy fire and formidable obstacles. The invasion opened a western front against Nazi Germany and became a decisive step toward the liberation of Europe. The courage and sacrifice demonstrated on D-Day remain among the most enduring examples of service in the cause of freedom.
As a memorial to the 11,000 North Carolinians who gave their lives during World War II and to the more than 10,000 men who served aboard USS NORTH CAROLINA, the Battleship serves as a place of remembrance and reflection.
“The anniversary of D-Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the immense courage required of those who crossed the English Channel and stormed the beaches of Normandy,” said Dr. Jay C. Martin, executive director of the Battleship North Carolina. “Their actions helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today. By illuminating the Battleship North Carolina, we honor their service and reaffirm our responsibility to preserve and share the stories of the World War II generation.”
The special uplighting honors the courage, sacrifice, and determination of all who participated in the Normandy campaign and the broader fight for freedom during World War II. The Battleship will be illuminated beginning at sunset and visible throughout the evening from downtown Wilmington and the surrounding waterfront.
For more information about the Battleship North Carolina Memorial, visit BattleshipNC.com.
