On June 6, 1944, nearly 160,000 allied troops came together in what is known as the largest naval, and airborne invasion in military history.
By John Habershaw
Published: Jun. 6, 2024 at 1:53 PM CDT|Updated: 4 hours ago
CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - On June 6, 1944, nearly 160,000 allied troops came together by land, air, and sea in what became the largest naval, and airborne invasion in military history. The operation was codenamed OVERLORD, which delivered five naval assault divisions to Nazi occupied beaches of Normandy, France. On June 6, 1944, 4,426 of those troops died, so that freedom wouldn’t.
It’s been 80 years since the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II, this historical event ultimately led to the liberation of Europe. Thousands of people from across the world gathered in Normandy, to commemorate the 80th anniversary, with two Wyomingites having the unique opportunity to show their respects this year.
Matt Mitchell, and his daughter Audrey, traveled to Normandy with the Neuchâtel Pipe Band, a bagpipe band from Switzerland. It all started eight years ago, when Matt, an orthopedic surgeon, had a patient he was taking care of come in with a finger injury. The patient during the visit asked Matt when he would be able to restart the bagpipes, hearing this question it sparked Matt’s interest in learning how to start playing himself. Matt began practicing, later joining the Lander Pipe Band, who his daughter Audrey joined him for a couple years, after some convincing. So how did two Wyomingites get an opportunity to travel over 4,700 miles to perform at the 80th Ceremony of D-Day?
It all began when Audrey went to school in Switzerland on a one-year scholarship. “I went over to help her move in, and we ended up getting acquainted with the Neuchâtel Celtic Pipe Band, I started playing with them and they told me they were going to Normandy.” Matt continues, “We got into a conversation about how I had an uncle who flown in on June 6th, and how I was in the military.” Matt mentions how in Switzerland, military services are mandatory, and the band members were all in the military which both shared a bond over. The Mitchell’s have a extensive military background in their family, going back generations. Having uncles that served in WWII, and his father and brother both retired from the air force. Matt’s great uncle, Harry Orton, was a pilot who flew gliders on that fateful day in 1944.
The Neuchâtel Celtic Pipe Band, extended an offer that both Matt and Audrey couldn’t refuse, an opportunity to join them in Normandy to perform during the ceremony. When Audrey heard the news they’d be heading to Normandy, she couldn’t help but feel excited, but understood there was a sense of responsibility in making those who served our country all those years ago proud. “Honoring them in this way, and making sure that what they’ve done, and what they’ve given is really remembered, to share that with my dad I think is going to be really special.” explained Audrey. Including be able to perform with the band, Audrey was offered the opportunity to perform a solo of “Amazing Grace”, at the Normandy-American cemetery. Though she nervously accepted that offer, she knew that the years of practice, prepared her for this moment, “You know initially very nerve wracking, because it’s a lot of pressure. I definitely want to do a good job, but it kind of goes back to that feeling of being able to give back.” Audrey continues, “I’ve been upping my practice, making sure that it’s going to be the best solo that I can give, and making my dad proud, make my great, great uncle who flew glidders in WWII, make him proud and just be apart of this really great experience.”
A great experience, but one that puts into perspective the sacrifices that were made just 80 years ago. Matt said “Just realizing that eighty years before, there were hundreds of thousands of troops that were getting ready to go ashore, and probably weren’t exactly sure what they were going to encounter.” Matt continues, “Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good, and so I think that their heroism you want to honor, I think that’s important to do that.”
Both Audrey and Matt are honored to be able to pay their respects on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, and have a sense of pride representing Wyoming over 47-hundred miles away from the Cowboy State. Audrey explains what it means to represent her home state, “There’s amazing things happening in Wyoming, and being able to spotlight that and take it over sea’s, and just to be able to represent Wyoming. My dad and I are going to be putting little Wyoming state flags on our bag pipes just to get that representation over there in France.” Matt sharing the same feeling says, “To go over there and represent Wyoming at an event that signifies the sacrifice a generation made 80 years ago to ensure freedom and to make sure that we can enjoy our lives today.”
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