State Leaders Mark D-Day, Remember Pa. Contributions to War Effort

Some 1.2 million Pennsylvanians served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Only New York contributed more service people to the war effort.

More than 15,000 Pennsylvanians were killed.

On Friday, Pennsylvania's leaders highlighted the tremendous sacrifice of all service members on the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

“I am proud to represent my fellow Pennsylvanians and all Americans in honoring the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) said. “The anniversary of D-Day is a poignant reminder of the tremendous sacrifices our service members make. It is our solemn duty to honor their valor.”

Casey travelled to Normandy this week with a congressional delegation to mark the 70th anniversary.

“Today marks the moment that American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy and pried Europe from the hands of tyranny. The fight was hard, the casualties great and the reward was the shining hope of a free world,” Gov. Tom Corbett said Friday. “As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, we salute the honor, devotion and valor of our Greatest Generation.”

Pennsylvania made a number of significant contributions to D-Day. 

Pennsylvania’s steel mills supported the massive defense industry required to support Allied troops overseas, Casey said.

General George C. Marshall, the Army chief of staff during D-Day and one of the architects of the Allied invasion, was from Uniontown. Vice Admiral Alan G. Kirk, who lead the amphibious D-Day landings in Normandy and Sicily, was from Philadelphia.

Patch joins our state's leaders in thanking all past and present members of the Armed Forces for their service.