World War II U.S. Army veteran Staff Sgt. Duane "Pinky" Pinkston discusses the events of the parachute jump into Sainte Mere-Eglise on the morning of June 6, 1944 with soldiers from the United States Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command Airborne, from Fort Bragg, N.C. The current and former soldiers met at Utah Beach, France, June 2, 2012. Paratroopers and veterans gather in Normandy each year as a remembrance to the military service members who fought in the effort to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II which started with the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944. The commemoration, which includes ceremonies for the over 9,000 service members who gave their lives during the invasion and airborne operations, allows the countries involved to pay homage to those who fell 68 years ago.