June 6th marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day in World War II.
It’s the day in which Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy. The LST 325, docked in Evansville, was part of the invasion at Omaha Beach.
Free tours of the ship will be offered on June 6th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and June 7th-June 9th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During this special anniversary, the LST will be moved from Marina Pointe to Tropicana.
The four day celebration will begin with a private ceremony on the morning of June 6th. It will feature dignitaries from various allied countries, a representative from the Governor’s office and Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke.
The ship will open for tours at 1 p.m. and the Air Force band will play from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science will host a special screening of the movie, Casablanca. Retired EVSC film studies teacher, Terry Hughes, will provide commentary on the film’s place in cinema history.
Attendees 21 and older may enjoy a complementary French 75 cocktail. Tickets for the show are $10 per person.
On Friday, June 7th at Noon the Evansville Museum will host a discussion focusing on Evansville-made war material used during the invasion. Panelists include James MacLeod, Professor of History at the University of Evansville, and Tom Lonnberg, Curator of History for the Evansville Museum.
Throughout the four days, the Evansville Wartime Museum will have an exhibit, “75 on the 75,” showcasing 75 D-Day artifacts.
On Saturday, June 8th a Big Band 40’s gala will be held at the Tropicana Riverfront Events Center. The social hour begins at 6 p.m. with a buffet dinner at 7 p.m.
The night will feature the Evansville Symphonic Band from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person, available at the LST office and by phone at 812-435-8678 or online until June 4th.
