NORMANDY, FRANCE—On June 6, 1944, Thousands of young men from different nations stormed the beaches of Normandy to liberate the people of Europe, and pry the mainland from the hands of Hitler and his fascist regime. Many would not return home, and those who did were forever changed. It was, without exaggeration, a day that shaped a generation and the world, and there are many who are dedicated to ensuring it is never forgotten.

One such person is Benjamin Johnson, a quality assurance supervisor at Hill Air Force Base. In addition to working on the base, Johnson is a passionate living historian and a founding member of the Utah Military History Group: an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of Utah servicemen and women. Over the years, Johnson has participated in many different World War II-themed events, but none come close to the experience he had in June. 

“I had a number of friends putting on different events for the 80th Anniversary,” said Johnson, “and most were invitation only.” These friends began asking Johnson if he was attending, and when he said he didn’t plan to, they told him: if he made the trip, he would have a spot in the event. As these invitations piled up, Johnson realized it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. He bought the plane tickets and plans were soon underway. 

Johnson was able to participate in many of the commemorative events in Normandy, including a uniformed march through the town of Carentan, and driving the small coastal towns in a close friend’s Ford GPA: a WWII-era amphibious vehicle, surrounded by other living historians, all in uniform. The highlight, however, came on the morning of June 6, 2024, 80 years to the day since the invasion.

In uniform, Johnson, representing the Second Naval Beach Battalion, along with others, stood in the surf off Utah Beach, one of the American landing beaches. At the very same time as in 1944, he and those around him marched through the waves and made their way to shore. It was a recreation that was nothing short of monumental, being in “the same time, the same place, 80 years later,” said Johnson, as many surviving veterans watched on.

Events like these take a lot of time, and preparation, and aren’t free, or even cheap. So why do Johnson, and others like him sacrifice the time and money to put on and participate in events like these? The answers vary, but for Johnson, “It’s definitely important that we learn what events have shaped our country,” he said, explaining that actions like these help to preserve history for generations to come.

“I hope what we do,” he said “will teach the younger generations, and put a spark in their minds.” And as far as the community in Normandy goes, it’s working. Year after year, decade after decade, the American cemetery in Normandy consistently is awarded and recognized for its cleanliness, neatness, and upkeep, but what’s more impressive is that, while the American Battle Monuments Commission does a significant amount of upkeep, much is also done by French families who “adopt” the graves – generations paying homage, and giving thanks for those interred there.

It is possible to learn about the events of D-Day from a book, or documentary. It’s possible to glean information about the day from the internet, or from feature films, but for those who stood there on June 6 of this year, and witnessed hundreds of reenactors, in uniform, on the very spot where the Allies began to take back Europe 80 year before, it’s a sight and an event they will never forget. In that way, at least, that “spark” might yet be passed on to generations to come.