June 6, 2024, will mark the 80^th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion and D-Day when some 160,000 allied troops landed on the northern French region’s beaches during World War II. Lexington has a long history with Normandy, having been Sister Cities with Deauville, France since 1957.

To commemorate this special occasion (as well as a day of remembrance for the eight fallen soldiers with ties to Lexington who are buried in the Normandy American Cemetery), Lexington Sister Cities have partnered with KET, the Kentucky Theatre, The Nunn Center, the Lexington Public Library’s Kentucky Room, the Lexington History Museum, and Full Field Agency to sponsor a special event on June 6 at the Kentucky Theatre. 

The free event, which begins at 5:30 pm and is open to the public, includes remarks from Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and UK President Eli Capilouto as well as an airing of the KET documentary In Their Own Words, which features interviews with Kentucky’s WWII veterans. The event also will feature audio interviews from The Nunn Center with some of Lexington’s D-Day veterans. And the Sister Cities Deauville Exchange will give proclamations to family members of the eight Lexington soldiers buried at the Normandy American Cemetery.

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