Eighty-one years ago Friday was the start of the end of World War II in Europe: D-Day.

The invasion of Normandy began on that day in 1944, launching the largest seaborne invasion in history as Allied forces stormed Western Europe.

When it was over, thousands of troops had perished in the terrible battle on the French shoreline, but the push to bring a halt to the Axis reign of terror was begun. Troops from Canada, Great Britain and the United States, wave after wave of humanity, hit Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches.

The objective was to begin to reclaim France, which was occupied by Adolph Hitler’s forces, in order to wrest the rest of Europe from his evil hands.

Simply put, D-Day launched the operation that helped bring World War II in Europe to its conclusion.

With few inva

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