Eisenhower National Historic Site will commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day with special tours of Gettysburg National Cemetery/NPS
On May 8-10, Eisenhower National Historic Site in Pennsylvania will offer special ranger-guided tours of World War II burial sites in Gettysburg National Cemetery to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the end of the war in Europe. Each program will begin at 5:30 pm at the Taneytown Rd. entrance to the cemetery.
Eighty years ago, Victory in Europe (VE) Day—May 8, 1945—marked the end of the war in Europe. After years of fighting in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Western Europe, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Allied forces under his command had finally achieved victory over Nazi Germany. That victory came at an immense cost, one seen in burial grounds around the world, including Gettysburg National Cemetery.
These walking tours will visit gravesites of soldiers, sailors, and airmen who died in the European Theater and were brought back to Gettysburg for final burial after the war. From North Africa to Italy, to the skies above Europe, and the final campaigns from France to Germany, each evening’s program will tell a crucial chapter of the story of how Victory in Europe was won eighty years ago.
May 8—Chapter 1: North Africa to D-Day--From Operation Torch in 1942 to the preparation for D-Day in 1944, follow the War in Europe through the stories of those who fought and died from 1942 to early 1944.
May 9—Chapter 2: The Air War in Europe--From air bases in England to the skies above Germany, hear the stories of those who engaged in aerial combat 80 years ago during WWII.
May 10—Chapter 3: D-Day to VE Day--From the beaches of Normandy to the final surrender of Germany, visit the graves of those who fought and died in the final months of the war in Europe.
Each program is free of charge and will last for approximately one-hour. More information can be found at the park's website.
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