New Orleans’ National WWII Museum recognizes H-Hour

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — 6:30 a.m. on D-Day is also known as H-Hour, the codename for Operation Overlord.

“What that’s designed to do is really just be a time of reflection to remember the men who were lost on D-Day but also those who have since passed,” explained Maggie Hartley, the director of public engagement at the National WWII Museum. “Really, with the 80th anniversary, we’re quickly approaching the time where we won’t have World War II veterans here with us. We really consider this to be a very sacred moment.”

Dozens gathered at the nationally recognized museum in New Orleans Thursday morning to pay tribute to the 150,000 troops that invaded Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. Twenty thousand soldiers died as a result of the invasion to liberate Northwest Europe.

“This is the hour when all of the young men were approaching the beach, and we’ve been thinking a lot about what was going through their minds,” said attendee Mary Anne Waldemayer. “I’m very grateful to God for the sacrifice they made.”

Another attendee, Vietnam War veteran Paul Minor, says the H-Hour gathering brings back memories of his time in combat, deploying from a helicopter.

“It’s total chaos, and you’re in alfalfa grass above your head, and you’re scared,” said Minor. “And you say, ‘Lord, please let me survive this.’ So, I know that’s what the men felt when that ramp dropped on that first wave on this incredible day 80 years ago.”

Minor believes the best way to commemorate D-Day is by learning about it, which starts with a conversation.

“[We’ve] become much better citizens and much better Americans to know what others went through, and we didn’t just walk into this free,” Minor said. “We had to earn it.”

If you can’t make it to the museum on Thursday, June 6, the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy will host a symposium on Friday, June 7, highlighting the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The program is from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

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