Gettysburg, PA—Join Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS) staff to remember and honor the men and women, who 80 years ago, who took part in General Dwight Eisenhower’s “great crusade” to liberate Europe. From June 6-9, park staff will host special programming at Eisenhower NHS and in Gettysburg National Cemetery to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Eighty years ago, General Dwight D. Eisenhower led the Allied Expeditionary Force as it began the liberation of Western Europe from fascism and tyranny during World War II. With the eyes of the world upon them, soldiers, sailors, and airmen from over a dozen Allied countries braved the dangerous seas, skies, and sands of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Special events will begin on June 6 with a naturalization ceremony at Eisenhower NHS at 10 am. Join National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services staff to welcome new citizens at General and Mrs. Eisenhower’s Gettysburg home. This ceremony will feature keynote remarks from retired Air Force 3-star general Christopher Burne, whose father participated in the Normandy campaign as a member of the Mighty 8th Air Force. The Gettysburg Choral Society and Junior ROTC cadets from Gettysburg High School will also take part in the commemoration, along with additional remarks from NPS staff. Visitors interested in attending the ceremony are asked to bring a lawn chair with them, as seating may be limited.
Additional programming will include:
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Ranger-guided walking tours of WWII burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery at 5:30 pm on June 6, 7, and 8. The tours will meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to Gettysburg National Cemetery. Each tour will last approximately one hour. Tours will be followed by the 100 Nights of Taps ceremony at the Soldiers National Monument.
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Living history at Eisenhower NHS on June 8 and 9. Living historians will portray Allied forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago. Their display will include guided talks by expert living historians at 11 am and 1 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
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A special family reading adventure program on Saturday, June 8, at 10 am. This interactive reading adventure for children and families will explore what citizenship means and how citizens make a difference in our communities. This program is best suited for young learners ages 4-10 and will include an activity with one of our living history volunteers.
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Ranger programs at Eisenhower NHS from June 6 through June 9 will include the debut of “D-Day: Battlefield in a Box.” Join park staff for this new program, where visitors help build an interactive map of the Normandy battlefield and see how General Eisenhower led the Allies to victory 80 years ago.
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Open-house-style tours of the Eisenhower home will be ongoing during these commemorations. Open house tours will take place from 10 am through 4 pm, from Thursday June 6 through Sunday June 9.
All Eisenhower NHS commemorative programming and events are free of charge. A full schedule, as well as program and event updates, can be found at https://www.nps.gov/eise/d-day-anniversary.htm.
Visitors may drive directly to Eisenhower NHS for on-site events. Please use 250 Eisenhower Farm Road for GPS and follow on-site signs for parking directions. Visitors are advised to check the park website and social media pages for updates to the program schedule.