NEW ORLEANS – The National WWII Museum will commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day on June 6 with its annual Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day Commemoration, honoring the Allied invasion of Normandy and the Americans who contributed to the war effort both on the battlefield and at home.
The free public ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the museum and will recognize the service and sacrifice of those involved in Operation Overlord, the June 6, 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy, France that marked a turning point in World War II.
More than 150,000 Allied troops participated in the invasion, the largest amphibious military landing in history, launching a campaign that ultimately helped liberate northwest Europe from Axis control.
Presented in memory of D-Day veteran Dr. Harold “Hal” Baumgarten, the annual event honors the men who landed on the beaches of Normandy while also highlighting the broader wartime effort that supported Allied forces overseas. The commemoration is supported through the Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day Commemoration Endowment, established through a gift from Karen and Leopold Sher.
This year’s ceremony will feature more than 30 Rosie the Riveters, who were recognized with the Museum’s 2026 American Spirit Award. During World War II, Rosie the Riveters joined the industrial workforce in large numbers, filling manufacturing and production roles that had traditionally been held by men and helping supply the Allied war effort.
The women are traveling to New Orleans through the Soaring Valor program of the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Remembering D-Day and Its Legacy
Operation Overlord resulted in approximately 20,000 casualties on both sides and marked the beginning of a prolonged and costly campaign to liberate northwest Europe from Axis control.
Museum officials said the Dr. Hal Baumgarten D-Day Commemoration Endowment helps support educational programming about World War II while honoring the legacy of the D-Day veteran and longtime Museum supporter.
The ceremony will also highlight how Rosie the Riveters helped produce the equipment and supplies needed to support Allied forces during D-Day and throughout the war, while contributing to lasting changes in the role of women in American society.
The event is free and open to the public.
WWII Museum – Economic Impact
Beyond its educational mission, The National WWII Museum has evolved into one of New Orleans’ largest cultural tourism anchors, contributing more than $2.7 billion in economic impact to the city since 2000 while drawing millions of out-of-state visitors.
