(NEXSTAR) – Looking around Omaha Beach, today’s visitors to the site ... and the Normandy American Cemetery, where thousands of U.S. soldiers who died during Operation Overlord are buried.

Somewhere around 9,000 soldiers are buried in this Colleville-sur-Mer war cemetery, which overlooks Omaha Beach. Most of these lost their lives during the D-Day invasion. There's also a memorial ...

By John Kline, Guest Commentary On May 26, 1943, Red Wing high school senior Richard Ekholm celebrated his 18th birthday and days later walked across the Sheldon Auditorium stage in cap and gown.