MASON CITY – A Mason City family created a banner to honor their father and all the other heroes who participated in the D-Day landing in Europe 80 years ago.
From the Sanchez family of Mason City (June 6, 2024):
Today is the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Our father Merno Sanchez participated in D-Day on Omaha Beach. We made this banner (picture included, above) to honor all those who participated in and sacrificed during the invasion of Normandy. The banner is a picture of Omaha Beach. Of all the allied beaches. Omaha suffered the most casualties 2,400. The worst area on the beach was Dog Green, directly in front of the strong points guarding the Vierville draw and under heavy flanking fire from the emplacements to the west, near Pointe de la Percee. The banner is currently being displayed today and all during the month of June at the Kinney-Pioneer Museum. My sister Cindy May, who is a veteran, and her granddaughter Cecilia May are currently in France to help commemorate the anniversary. They will also bring back some sand from Omaha Beach, which analyst have said to this day, is still laden with small bits of shrapnel from the battle.
Thank you.
