Remembering the Bravery of D-Day: Reflections on Its 81st Anniversary

I’ve covered many anniversaries of D-Day, and they never lose their power to move.

We attended the 81st anniversary at the magnificent American cemetery in Normandy near Omaha Beach on Friday. American and Allied forces arrived on these and other beaches, along with airborne troops descending from the skies, to ultimately defeat Nazi Germany in World War II.

Military planes fly over an American cemetery in Normandy, France, in remembrance of D-Day on June 6, 2025. (Greg Palkot)

“America first’ hasn’t meant and doesn’t mean ‘America alone,’” he mentioned. “By collaborating with our allies and partners, we have the potential to address many of the current global threats.”

Still, some of those who saw action in Normandy and around the globe in World War II are not sure the message has gotten through.

WWII veterans at a D-Day celebration ceremony on June 6, 2025. (Greg Palkot)

Two centenarian combat veterans and native New Yorkers, brought to France by the Greatest Generations Foundation, have their own thoughts.

Flushing-born Ray Sweeney asked rhetorically, “What did we learn? I don’t think we learned much. We gave up a lot of bodies. We had a lot of bodies.”

Fox News’ Greg Palkot with 103-year-old WWII veteran Ray Sweeney on June 6, 2025. (Greg Palkot)

And Brooklyn-born Harold Radish noted, “War is heroic in the movies. But in real life, it’s killing. It’s not getting along with somebody.”

Nonetheless, the crowds that gathered on Friday at the serene French beaches were consistent and substantial. This is a clear indication that sacrifices continue to be remembered, and perhaps some critical lessons have been learned.

A veteran stands on the shores at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 2025. (Greg Palkot)