Through books written by best-selling authors, Alex Kershaw and Patrick K. O’Donnell, Symposium on D-Day will offer a glimpse into the various challenges presented to those involved in Operation Overlord (D-Day).
The event, honoring the 75th Anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in history, will include a direct look into the events that began on June 6, 1944, the launch of Operation Overlord.
“Both Patrick and I bring a great deal of passion and detail to our work,” Kershaw explained. “I think people will see this as we talk about the events we wrote about [in our books].”
At the Symposium, Kershaw will discuss his best-seller, “The Bedford Boys,” which tells the story of 34 men who made up the first wave at Omaha Beach on D-Day.
“19 out of those 34 men died in that one day,” Kershaw explained. “The book is really a story of the tremendous sacrifice this small community made during World War II.”
Wright Museum Executive Director Mike Culver said Kershaw’s book reads like a novel, as it takes the reader through the minds of those involved.
“If you want to read something that isn’t necessarily about battle, but about people, this book is incredible,” he noted.
O’Donnell, author of “Dog Company” and “Washington’s Immortals,” said his books are often described as “non-fiction that reads like fiction.”
“Each book captures the story of a small group of individuals who had a crucial impact on the inflection points of a larger event,” he said. “The individual actions of the veterans I chronicle often shaped history and tell a larger story.”
Both authors expressed enthusiasm that the Symposium is timed to honor the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
“WWII generation is an important part of our DNA and who we are as Americans,” said O’Donnell. “Understanding and recognizing the past and the stories of those individuals who bent or shaped history is important for the future.”
The event, sponsored by Two International Group, will take place on July 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in The Great Hall at Wolfeboro’s Towne Hall. Admission is $15 for non-members and $10 for members.
“If you want to celebrate the amazing achievements of those who sacrificed and fought in World II, this Symposium will provide a perfect opportunity to do this,” Kershaw said.
