Four paratroopers descended from a cloudless sky early Thursday morning onto the grounds of Memorial Park, the fourth carrying a large American flag as he descended. Around 40 people were gathered there by the rotunda to honor the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the “beginning of the end” of the second World War and a historic turning point for the Allied Forces. Memorial Park was dedicated in 1948, shortly after the end of the second World War and has been the site of numerous such commemorative events over the past 70+ years.
The event was organized by Patriotic Productions, which has organized an annual “Patriotic Parade” on Memorial Day weekend and had also hosted such political events as a speaking engagement with women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines. Patriotic Productions co-founder Bill Williams spoke at the event, along with former Mayor Hal Daub and featured speaker Eric Krelle, a local Omahan and amateur World War 2 historian. Krelle wore an authentic World War 2 uniform as he gave his keynote address.
Among the guests were a pair representatives from France as well as Aurora Mayor Marlin Seeman. The event concluded with the laying of a wreath, a 21 gun salute, and the playing of “taps.”
