The City of Alexandria announced on Apr. 30 that it will hold two events to mark the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, including the 16th Annual D-Day Commemoration and a lecture by Rear Admiral Samuel Cox, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command.
The commemoration aims to honor those who participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. The annual event is organized by the Alexandria–Caen Sister City Committee, which promotes cultural exchanges between Alexandria and Caen, France—a city closely linked to D-Day history.
The main commemoration will take place on Sunday, May 31 from 1 to 4 p.m. at John Carlyle Square due to construction at City Hall. The free event will feature World War II reenactors, historical displays, live jazz music from the era, swing dancing, children’s activities, educational exhibits, and a ceremony with special guests and local officials representing both U.S. Armed Services and Allied countries.
A separate lecture titled “Operations Tiger and Neptune – D-Day at Sea” will be presented by Rear Admiral Samuel Cox on Thursday, June 4 at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. Tickets for this lecture are $15 for in-person attendance or $10 for Office of Historic Alexandria members.
D-Day took place on June 6, 1944 as part of Operation Neptune—the opening phase of Operation Overlord—and marked one of history’s largest amphibious invasions led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower with more than 156,000 troops landing along five Normandy beaches. According to official accounts included in the announcement, over 4,500 Allied soldiers were killed that day—including nearly half Americans—with their actions paving the way for later victories such as Cherbourg’s capture and Germany’s surrender less than a year afterward.
The press release notes that “Though ‘D-Day’ is a general military term for launching an operation,” its use has become synonymous with courage and sacrifice since June 6, 1944.
Alexandria’s museums and historic sites enhance community identity by interpreting local social and cultural history according to the official website. The city also maintains institutions like the Alexandria Black History Museum documenting African American heritage as noted on its official website. Racial and social equity are incorporated into city policies to foster fair outcomes per its official website.
According to its official website, Alexandria operates under a council-manager government where council members select a manager for operations. As an independent city within defined boundaries it provides services for residents, businesses and visitors according to its official site. The city’s Archaeological Commission partners with agencies and residents for research efforts related to preservation according to its official site.
