D-Day remembrance ceremony June 2 at World War II Memorial

[May 23, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- A day that changed the world will be remembered on June 2 as the 68th anniversary of the D-Day invasion is observed at the Illinois World War II Memorial in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery. The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, begins at 11 a.m. and lasts until noon.

The event will include re-enactors in World War II uniforms, patriotic music and a rifle salute by the Sangamon County Burial Detail. Seating will be provided. The ceremony is sponsored by the World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial Committee.

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the largest seaborne invasion in history as hundreds of thousands of American, British and other Allied forces landed in France and began a yearlong drive to push the fight to the German homeland and end World War II in Europe.

The Illinois World War II Memorial, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is located off Route 29 in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]