Submitted by the General Omar N. Bradley Mid-Missouri Chapter

Members of the General Omar N. Bradley Mid-Missouri Chapter participated in a community wreath-laying ceremony in Moberly commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

“Wreaths have been laid all over the world to remember and honor the courage and sacrifice of those men and women who made the D-Day mission successful,” said Chapter President Lt. Col. Walter P. Lantzy III, USA (Ret), during the ceremony. “We are pleased to be able to do the same here in a place Gen. Omar Bradley loved so much.”

Bradley was a field commander for American forces during Operation Overlord, and on June 6, 1944, he oversaw the first American landings on Normandy’s beaches.

Speakers highlighted Bradley’s history in Moberly, from being born in a log cabin not far from the town to playing baseball in high school and college.

He was known as the “GI General” because of the care he showed for his troops, said chapter member Maj. Barbara Churchill, USA (Ret).

After the war, the chapter’s namesake spent much of his time in Moberly, playing golf and holding a membership with the local rotary club. When he wasn’t in Moberly, Bradley advocated for veterans as the head of the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C., said Kristine Zauke, a professor at Moberly Area Community College.

During the ceremony, veterans — all members of the chapter — from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force spoke about the importance of each branch in D-Day operations. Each veteran laid a wreath representing their branch and made remarks.

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Lt. Col. Martin W. Walker II, USMC (Ret), outlined the many ways Marines assisted in Operation Overlord in 1944.

Col. David Randerson, USAF (Ret), spoke about the importance of U.S. Army Air Forces in dropping paratroopers behind enemy lines and destroying German air force resources ahead of the attack.

Capt. Ted Jacobs, USN (Ret), highlighted the Navy’s role in the destruction of sea mines and other obstacles to landing troops before the D-Day attack.

Bradley played an important role in directing troops during D-Day operations, Churchill said.

In addition to the chapter members’ involvement at the ceremony, Missouri Rep. Louis Riggs spoke about Bradley’s leadership style and said he never raised his voice. Attendees also heard letters commemorating D-Day from U.S. Rep. Sam Graves as well as Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt.

The General Omar Bradley Memorial Library and Museum Inc. hosted the ceremony. The nonprofit also held a showing of the film The Longest Day and a fundraising dinner featuring artifacts from the Randolph County Historical Society.

The day’s events mark the beginning of a campaign by the General Omar Bradley Memorial Library and Museum Inc. to fund construction of a library and museum in Bradley’s honor. The organization is co-chaired by Lantzy and Sarah Graff.

“I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that it is the day that saved the world,” Graff said. “We are proud to say that Bradley, one of our native sons, had such a large role in it.”