80th Anniversary of D-Day Symposium
“D-Day + 80,” a symposium revisiting the greatest amphibious military campaign of the twentieth century convened on April 20, 2024, at Gettysburg College.
On the eve of the Symposium an historian and sponsor thank you dinner was held at the World War II American Experience Museum. It was followed by a Meet the Historians Reception for our donors at the one-star or higher level. The next morning, we met for a full-day program which included lectures by noted military historians including Dr. John C. McManus who spoke on The Americans at D-Day, Dr. Craig Symonds whose talk was entitled “The Navy Saved our Hides:” U.S. Naval Gunfire Support on D-Day, and David Eisenhower who presented Triumph and Tragedy – D-Day and Beyond. A panel featured presentations by Susan Eisenhower discussing Early Planning for Operation Overlord – Important but Little Remembered Leadership Decisions, Dr. Doug Douds who presented Operational Dilemma: The German Defense of Normandy, and Major General. William Matz who discussed Allied Airborne Operations in Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944.
After the formal presentations, participants were offered the options of viewing an hour-long educational film entitled D-Day at Pointe du Hoc narrated by David McCallum and introduced by Col. John Fenzel, CEO of the World War II Foundation or attending a walking tour entitled “The Great Crusade,” D-Day Casualties in the Gettysburg National Cemetery presented by Park Ranger Dan Vermilya. Guest speakers were also available to sign their books, many of which were for sale at the college bookstore.
The Symposium was co-sponsored by the Dwight D. Eisenhower Society and the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College and funded in part by generous grants from the Robert M. Lauman Foundation and Destination Gettysburg. Other partners included the Eisenhower National Historic Site, the World War II Foundation, the World War II American Experience Museum and Federal Pointe Inn. Thank you sponsors!