Overlord

June 6, 1944. The greatest amphibious landing ever attempted began on the shores of German-occupied Normandy. An invasion fleet of more than 6,900 vessels assembled in British ports, some 12,000 aircraft were tasked with supporting the invasion and 150,000 American, British, Canadian and other allied troops were involved. British and Canadian troops went in on beaches codenamed Gold, Sword and Juno. Americans went in on Utah and Omaha beaches.

There are so many histories of the invasion that tell of the courage and sacrifice that day and in the days that followed. The first day of the invasion, D-Day, cost more than 3,300 Americans lives. On this day, remember those who fought for the freedom of Europe.

Freedom is never free. And there is only one currency accepted in payment.

Wikipedia has an extensive entry. Encyclopedia Britannica has the story told by those who were there and an extensive collection of photographs. The D-Day museum in Portsmouth, England has the "Overlord Embroidery" a reverse Bayeux Tapestry depicting the first successful invasion across the English Channel since 1066.

H/T to Dale Franks, writing at QandO, who's D-Day post is itself worth reading.