Dr. John C. McManus to Deliver D-Day Anniversary Address
Commemoration to include memorial tributes to Ash Rothlein and Bernard Marie
Bedford, VA – On June 6, the National D-Day Memorial will welcome Dr. John
C. McManus, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of U.S. Military History at the
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), to deliver the
keynote address commemorating the 78th anniversary of D-Day.
As a leading military historian and the author of 13 well-received books on the
topic, McManus is in frequent demand as a speaker and expert commentator.
His latest book Island Infernos: The U.S. Army’s Pacific War Odyssey, 1944 was
released in November 2021 and his previous book, Fire and Fortitude: The U.S.
Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943 received the Gilder Lehrman Prize for
military history, the most prestigious literary award in the field. McManus will
sign books following the ceremony. Purchase books at dday.org/shop or in the
Memorial’s Gift Shop.
The commemoration will include memorial tributes to Ash Rothlein and
Bernard Marie. Rothlein, a Normandy campaign veteran, spearheaded the
effort to create the Memorial’s Homage sculpture and a scholarship fund.
Marie, who at the age of 5 sheltered in a cellar on D-Day, held an annual dinner
to celebrate veterans who liberated his native France and personally helped
many veterans secure the Legion of Honor medal.
The ceremony is set for June 6 at 11AM at the Memorial. Gates open at 10AM,
with free admission until noon. Visit dday.org/78th for a complete list of
anniversary events and details.