Paratroopers of 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team

Paratroopers of 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team gather for a safety brief at Cherbourg Maupertus Airport June 9, 2019, in Cherbourg, France. More than 1,100 parachutes sailed above Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day June 9, 2019. Allied Forces began the liberation of Europe on the beaches and in the skies of Normandy during WWII. Nineteen aircraft from multiple nations and paratroopers from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom and the United States dropped civilians and Soldiers, both free fall and static line, in front of tens of thousands of spectators. Over 1,300 U.S. personnel have been supporting more than 80 ceremonies in the region since June 1. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ryan Rayno)