Veterans lament low number of Central Florida D-Day events

Veterans lament low number of Central Florida D-Day events
By Eloísa Ruano González Sentinel Staff Writer
June 7, 2009

Queen Elizabeth wasn't the only person disheartened about the 65th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings after she initially wasn't invited to join President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy for a commemoration at the Normandy beaches.

Veterans in Central Florida were more disappointed when little was done Saturday to remember the thousands of U.S. troops who died during the massive Allied invasion. With the exception of a two-day celebration at the DeLand airport that kicked off Saturday, special events were absent throughout the region.

While some residents — many who served in other wars — planned to hang American flags to honor the soldiers, other people swarmed shopping centers and malls with little knowledge of the event that happened more than half a century ago.

"Veterans find that very disturbing," Cmdr. Thomas Roberts of the Winter Park American Legion said. "It was the greatest invasion that took place ... thousands died."
go here for more
Veterans lament low number of Central Florida D-Day events