The National D-Day Memorial will host its annual Veterans Day observance ceremony on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 11a.m. Veterans in attendance will be recognized during the ceremony. Admission on November 11 will be free until noon for the public and free all day for all veterans.

Mitchell Yockelson, Keynote Speaker

Mitchell Yockelson manages the National Archives and Records Administration Archival Recovery Program, leading investigations of thefts of historical documents and museum artifacts. Additionally, Yockelson is a professor of military history at Norwich University and author. His latest book, The Paratrooper Generals: Matthew Ridgway, Maxwell Taylor, and the American Airborne from D-Day through the Normandy Campaign was published by Stackpole in 2020. Yockelson’s next book, The Lion and the General, a story about the friendship between Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower, will be published in fall 2025. Yockelson will sign books following the ceremony. Books are available online at store.dday.org and in the Memorial’s gift shop.

Name Addition to Memorial Wall

After years of research and verification, the Memorial will add the name of Father Ignatius Maternowski to plaque W-48, on the Memorial Wall. The Memorial Wall represents the world’s most complete account of D-Day fallen, with this addition bringing the total to 4,427 Allies killed on June 6, 1944, during the Normandy invasion. In his address, Yockelson will share Maternowski’s story of valor before a special blessing of the plaque. The Memorial will also dedicate a narrative plaque honoring the 102nd Calvary Group and brick additions to the Annie J. Bronson Veterans Memorial Walk.

Whiskey 7 Flyover

The ceremony will include a flyover by the famed C-46, Whiskey 7. Among the more than 900 C-47s that flew on D-Day was Whiskey 7 (W7) part of the 9th Air Force, 316^th Troop Carrier Group, 37^th Troop Carrier Squadron. Whiskey 7 was the lead plane of the second wave of airborne paratroopers on D-Day. She carried 21 members of the 82^nd Airborne, 505^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, H Company with the designated drop zone of Sainte-Mère-Église.

Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs. No pets (service animals welcome). A food truck will open following the ceremony. Please, no food in the plaza. Guided tours will begin at 1p.m.

The National D-Day Memorial Foundation thanks these Veterans Day event sponsors: Framatome, Raymond James, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, Bank of the James, Centra, BWX Technologies, Inc., the Bedford Area Welcome Center and Department of Tourism, Fostek, Steel Dynamics, Inc., Town of Bedford, Virginia, Cintas, Genworth, and FreedomFirst.