It was 79 years ago today (after a day’s delay due to inclement weather) that the Allied invasion of Europe began on the beaches of Normandy, France.

D-Day was the moment that Nazi-occupied Europe had waited years for. The invasion was actually codenamed “Operation Overlord,” but the term “D-Day” stuck in the minds of the public, and is now used specifically to remember the Normandy invasion, even though the “D” in D-Day simply means “Day” (though there are some disagreements about that).

In other words, the D in D-Day merely stands for Day. This coded designation was used for the day of any important invasion or military operation. For military planners (and later historians), the days before and after a D-Day were indicated using plus and minus signs: D-4 meant four days before a D-Day, while D+7 meant seven days after a D-Day.”

Many of us have been fortunate enough to know a World War II veteran personally, and perhaps even someone who participated in Operation Overlord on D-Day. As time has passed, however, the men who so bravely fought to save the world are passing into eternity. As with Pearl Harbor survivors, only a handful of Normandy veterans are still living, and even fewer are able to return to be celebrated and honored each year. For this year’s commemorations, the veterans who once stormed the beaches are being wheeled through the streets.

The teenage boys who landed that day are now in their late 90’s at best, and all too soon, we will lose them, and their connections to the dead. Under the white crosses and Stars of David lie the remains of real, living people who died to make others free.

Many visitors came to the American Cemetery before Tuesday’s ceremonies to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives.”

Jean-Philippe Bertrand, a visitor from the southern French city of Marseille, walked through the countless lines of white crosses Monday.”

“It’s unimaginable to make such a sacrifice for my freedom, for my son’s freedom,” he said.”

“You hear about it on the news and you see the pictures. But once you’re here and you see the reality and the sacrifice that has been made for our beautiful country — I wanted to make the trip once in my life to thank all these people to whom we owe so much,” he added.”

Today is D-Day and at the American cemetery in Normandy, French caretakers will have collected sand from Omaha Beach and rubbed it into the gravestones to highlight the names of the departed.

They do this for all 9,388 soldiers who lay there.#DDay79 pic.twitter.com/dRrjG9MWQK

— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) June 6, 2023

It is absolutely imperative that the sacrifices made that day not be forgotten. But how do you teach that to the next generation? Certainly we’ve learned that the schools won’t teach it well (if at all), so it is up to parents and guardians and relatives to impress upon the younger generations about D-Day and the cost of freedom. Not all of us can afford to take a trip to Normandy to show our kids what happened, where it happened. So, here are my suggestions, some which I have used with my own children, for easy, age-appropriate, and relatively inexpensive (compared to a flight to France, anyway) ways to make the realities of D-Day stay fresh in younger minds.

1) Cartoons (for very young children)
My top recommendation for years has been to find older cartoons that have lasting power to show young kids on days like this. One of my personal favorites is “What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?“, which features Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and others visting France and stopping at Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Peanuts creator Charles Schultz commemorated D-Day in his strips because he believed it was important. Snoopy is an easy way to introduce young children, already familiar with the character, to the history of D-Day.

2) Movies (as age appropriate)
Obviously, for older teenagers and young adults, movies like “Saving Private Ryan” and miniseries like “Band of Brothers” (especially the first two episodes) drive home the graphic reality of D-Day, plus make you care about the men who fought the battle. But there are many movies that have been made about D-Day that would be easier viewing for younger teenagers, like “The Big Red One” or “The Longest Day.” I firmly recommend screening any movie ahead of time in order to determine if the young person in your life is ready for it.

3) Museums (for all ages)
While a trip to the Normandy museums in France, or to New Orleans to the National WWII Museum might be out of reach for some (obviously, if you live in or near the area, go!), check your local history museums to see if they have exhibits, either temporary or permanent, about World War II. Museums have struggled since the lockdowns, and local museums don’t have the funding and the cache of the Smithsonians in Washington DC. Did you know that there is a D-Day Museum in Ohio, for example? Or that the Museum of Flight in Seattle has an extensive World War II exhibit? There are many options, and perhaps one near you.

4) Visiting cemeteries (for all ages)
If you have a military cemetery, or a military section of a cemetery near you, taking your kids can be an impactful experience. As I have written about previously, my own kids are quite familiar with their personal connections to one of our local cemeteries. (They’re now old enough to roll their eyes and grumble when Mom says we’re walking over to the veterans’ cemetery, which means that they are typical teenagers.) If you don’t have a personal connection, maybe there’s a historical one. Perhaps there’s a WWII Medal of Honor recipient whose story can be looked up. If we truly believe that these men should not be forgotten, then the least we can do is visit their final resting places to remember them.

5) YouTube history channels (as age appropriate)
Yes, YouTube is filled with a lot of junk. But it’s also filled with a lot of people who have realized that the platform is a good way to teach and preserve history. Often, these history channels on YouTube will travel to locations that many of us will never get to, and see small or rare things that big documentaries often miss. My personal favorite is The History Underground, but there are many other good history channels as well (Vlogging Through History, WW2TV, and Walk With History come to mind) that have excellent content. Obviously, the kids know all about YouTube. Make YouTube work for you, and it won’t cost you anything extra.

If you’re looking for some content to watch on this 79th anniversary of D-Day, we have a playlist of our last visit to Normandy a few years ago. Link here: https://t.co/0sxBKuUNud pic.twitter.com/jixLpH2Vrs

— The History Underground (@history_under) June 6, 2023

Even if it’s as simple as watching a YouTube video or a movie, or reading a book, or remembering a loved one, may we all take a brief moment to consider what happened on the Normandy beaches 79 years ago today. Next year will be the 80th anniversary, and who knows how many veterans will still be with us. Let’s honor the ones who are still here, and keep the memories alive of those who gave their all that day, and the days after, by making the effort to remember D-Day.

Featured image: D-Day bas-relief panel from the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo by Deanna Fisher, April 2014, all rights reserved