[Archived] City of Alexandria Celebrates the 77th Anniversary of D-Day

­­For Immediate Release: June 2, 2021

Join the City of Alexandria, in partnership with sister city Caen, France, to honor the 77th Anniversary of D-Day with two free virtual events. 

On June 3, Dr. Kim Bernard Holien, a former U.S. Army Historian, will present “Secrets of D-Day.” Dr. Holien will discuss events, known and unknown, in a presentation about the secrets that made the Allies victorious. 

On June 4, Linda Hervieux, a Paris-based American journalist, photographer, and author, will discuss her book “FORGOTTEN: The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, at Home and at War.” Hervieux will discuss the story of D-Day’s only African-American combat soldiers, who were effectively written out of the history of the Normandy invasion. Tom Brokaw called the book "utterly compelling," and Douglas Brinkley said "all Americans should read" about this battalion's journey through segregated Jim Crow America to unexpected freedom in Britain and France.

On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops invaded Normandy, France, and gained a significant foothold in continental Europe during World War II. While more than 9,000 lives were lost during the invasion, it directly led to a decisive victory in the war.

These virtual events are free, but registration is required. Visit alexandriava.gov/Historic for more information and to register.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact jim.holloway@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4994, Virginia Relay 711.