Tag Archives: World War II

On The 75th Anniversary of D-Day

"The Fallen 9000": Artists who stenciled 9,000 bodies on the beach

In honor of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, we repost an emotional collaborative art installation from almost six years ago that is still in our hearts. On June 6th, 1944, the Allies attacked German forces on the shores of Normandy, … Continue reading

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WWII Twins Ludwig and Julius Pieper, Who Died by Each Other’s Side, are Finally Buried Side by Side

A high school history project led to their reunion in the Normandy American Cemetery in France 74 years after their deaths

In 2016, when Vanessa Taylor, then a high school sophomore in Ainsworth, Nebraska, took on a history project, she and her teacher Nichole Flynn had no idea they were about to shape history as well. As part of National History Day’s Normandy Institute program, … Continue reading

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“The Ballad of Rodger Young” Shares the Story of a Fallen Hero

Rodger Young attacked a machine gun nest to protect his comrades

“The Ballad of Rodger Young” was released as a single in 1945. It tells the story of a brave young infantryman who charged a Japanese gun nest, drawing fire so that his comrades could escape. Although the Army usually does … Continue reading

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Memorial Day Poem: “Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night”

Death of a son and comrade

Memorial Day has its roots in the American Civil War. Both the North and South wanted to set aside days to honor their dead. After World War I, the country set aside a day to honor all Americans killed in … Continue reading

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Long-Lost WWII Shipwreck Where The Five Sullivan Brothers Died Finally Located

The brothers' subterranean grave was discovered on St. Patrick's Day

Sometimes a bit of closure can arrive late. But, as the saying goes, it’s usually better than never. Such is the case for the Sullivan family. On Nov. 13, 1942, five brothers — George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert Sullivan … Continue reading

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Art from Auschwitz Serves as a Warning in Dark Times

Art from Holocaust survivors reminds us why we cannot forget

In the wake of last week’s horrific violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, I, like most Americans, found myself asking, “How could this happen here?” Our country is not immune to domestic terrorism, certainly. From the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing to the … Continue reading

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