Here's how Abilene's Eisenhower Library will commemorate 80th anniversary of D-Day
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
ABILENE — Next month will mark 80 years since Allied Forces landed at Normandy, and the boyhood home of the commander of that operation is commemorating D-Day with activities the first week of June.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Foundation is hosting "D-Day+80" from June 1 to 6, with events including the "Symphony at Sunset," featuring the Salina Symphony, programming in and around the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, and more.
Symphony at Sunset concert day full of events
The day of the concert, June 1, will be full of events for people of all ages, with activities, food vendors and musical performances throughout the day from not only the symphony but also groups including the Flint Hills Children's Choir, Everyday Lights and the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division Band.
Adrienne Allen, executive director of the Salina Symphony, said this performance is a fan favorite for symphony-goers each year.
"It (always) draws a large crowd," Allen said. "This concert is really meaningful, because it not only commemorates D-Day, but provides us an opportunity to recognize veterans."
The symphony program will consist of patriotic music including "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Armed Forces Salute" consisting of the official songs of the U.S. Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force and Navy, "Spirit of Freedom," John Philip Sousa marches and more.
"People will recognize almost every piece on the program," Allen said. "One of the songs, 'O Land of Mine, America,' features our Salina Youth Choir and the Flint Hills Children's Choir, so we'll have about a hundred kids singing with the (symphony)."
Admission to the outdoor events, as well as the museum is free the whole day, with outdoor activities beginning at 1 p.m. and the symphony's performance beginning at 8:30 p.m., just before sunset, to close the evening.
Finally, after last year's performance had to be canceled due to weather, Allen said this year a rain day is planned for June 2 just in case.
Other D-Day events this year at the Eisenhower Presidential Library
In addition to the full day of events on June 1, the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home will also be hosting other other programming throughout the week leading up to June 6.
Joining the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman Presidential Libraries, the Eisenhower Library will be presenting the World War II Emerging Scholars Symposium online, streaming live on YouTube from June 4 to 6.
This year's symposium topic is "Waging Peace," and presentations, which are scheduled for an hour at a time, will explore "the various global and domestic peace seeking efforts from 1932 until 1949."
More: Festival Medallion Quest 2024 underway after first clue revealed
Finally, on June 6, the anniversary date itself, there will be three scheduled programs, with opportunities to meet a World War II veteran at 9 a.m., a remembrance ceremony at 11 a.m. and a veterans panel at 2 p.m.
June 6 will also see free admission to the museum, reenactors and hands-on-history carts on site and more.
For more information and a full list of events happening during the Eisenhower Presidential Library's "D-Day+80" commemoration, visit the event's page on the library's website.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Symphony and more performing at D-Day commemoration in Abilene
