United States - Today is Tuesday, June 6, 2017 and on this day in 1944 Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France staging one of the pivotal attacks against Germany during World War II.

World War II museums, memorials, and ceremonies will be honoring the American, British and Canadian forces who landed along the 50 mile stretch of beaches that day 72 years ago.

The landing of troops on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, known around the world as D-Day, was given the name Operation Overlord. Leading up to the attack, plans of deception were carried out to mislead Germany. The overall commander of Operation Overlord was General Dwight Eisenhower.

The attack included more than 5,000 ships, 11,000 aircraft and landed more than 156,000 troops in Normandy. There are estimates of approximately 4,000 Allied casualties that day alone. The largest one day loss of American soldiers.

Please take a moment today and remember the brave men who lost their lives 72 years ago today.  There aren't very many WWII veterans left so if you know one, thank them for their service and commitment to keeping us free and safe.