https://www.youtube.com/live/RVFCRYO1lzY?si=4kz1aFqDXSc5JpL9 It’s surprising, but it is estimated that more men died in training for the D-Day invasion than on D-Day itself. One reason for this was the disaster of Operation Tiger, practice exercises at Slapton Sands, England, where more than 700 Americans died—in a calamity hushed up for many years. Learn what happened at Slapton Sands—and what it meant—with John D. Long, Director of Education at the National D-Day Memorial. John D. Long is an alumnus of Roanoke College and the University of Virginia. A museum professional for more than twenty years, he currently holds the position of Director of...

https://www.youtube.com/live/3yfj3DVAXBM?si=8wstEVrE8u3Ixaj0 Although facing discrimination wherever they served, African Americans worked in different roles as part of the Manhattan Project. While most had jobs as manual laborers, numerous Black American scientists, engineers, and technicians played important roles in developing the atomic bomb. These workers, who have largely been lost to history, are examined in this presentation by Dr. David Snead, Professor of History, Liberty University  About the speaker: David Snead has been a member of the History Department of Liberty University since 2004 and is currently a full professor. He has authored or edited six books: The Gaither Committee, Eisenhower, and...

https://www.youtube.com/live/FGFR_tsJWEo?si=99mB51KeldJPxnR4 Many may know Martha Gellhorn as one of the many wives of fellow journalist and literary giant, Ernest Hemingway; however, she was so much more. Although just a budding journalist during the Spanish Civil War, Gellhorn would later witness and cover many of pivotal moments of World War II and the rest of the 20th century.  About the speaker: Maggie Hartley is a museum educator who is passionate about engaging audiences of all ages with history and veterans’ experiences. She is currently the Director of Public Engagement at The National WWII Museum, and previously worked at the National D-Day...

The National D-Day Memorial has embarked on a new initiative to install a Medal of Honor Garden, paying tribute to the four Medal of Honor recipients from D-Day.  Join us as we dedicate the Medal of Honor Garden and honor 1st Lt. Jimmie W. Monteith Jr., a son of Virginia and member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Killed in action on June 6, 1944, Monteith's heroism was so apparent that both General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Omar Bradley personally recommended Monteith posthumously receive the nation's highest honor for valor in combat. Maj. Gen. Randal D. Fullhart, Virginia...

https://www.youtube.com/live/lpZTGfGwNYI?si=yj4YESJhcYrxf7rJ For almost a quarter of a century, the National D-Day Memorial Foundation staff has carried out research to answer a question no one had ever really answered: exactly how many Allied personnel died on D-Day? To date, 4,415 individuals have been identified, including 2,502 Americans on the Memorial’s Necrology Wall.   Learn more about this groundbreaking research project as we approach the 80th anniversary of D-Day from John D. Long, Director of Education at the National D-Day Memorial.  About the speaker: John D. Long is an alumnus of Roanoke College and the University of Virginia. A museum professional for...

https://www.youtube.com/live/jIx7f4oB8QI?si=H5zMQUB2YJp6rdME While many of those who are interested in World War II know about the existence of conscientious objectors—those that refused to participate in the war for religious or philosophical reasons—the actual history of their experience in the war is often forgotten. Who were the conscientious objectors, why did they refuse to fight, and what did they do instead of serving in the armed forces? Join National D-Day Memorial educator Mitchell Gehman to learn more about this unique side of the WWII experience. Mitchell Gehman is the Education & Public Outreach Coordinator at the National D-Day Memorial. He holds a...

Pittsburgh television anchor Michelle Wright will speak on her book The Secret Diary, the true story of an American aviator’s POW experience in Europe. After his B-24 was shot down in 1944, Marvin Doyle (a pre-war resident of Roanoke, VA and a student at Virginia Tech) endured months of captivity and documented his experiences by keeping a journal on flattened cigarette packs. Wright would inherit this makeshift diary from Doyle’s widow, and collected his writings in her book, copies of which she will sign after her talk. About the speaker: Michelle Wright anchors Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 every weekday morning. A native...