D-Day: The Mighty Endeavor…A Lecture By Jeffrey Urbin
By Donald Partelow
Jeffrey Urbin, Education Specialist and Director of the Pare Lorentz Film Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York, gave a talk on the D-Day Invasion for the Pawling Library on June 10, only days following the 76th anniversary of this historic event.
At the beginning of his presentation Mr. Urbin informed his audience that D-Day was officially called Operation Overlord, taking place at a time of incredible unity and also great uncertainty.
During the course of the program, Mr. Urbin discussed in detail the planning and execution of the invasion, with the use of maps, and documents, written by President Roosevelt and General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Urbin told us that those who wanted peace put their faith in both the judgment and planning of their leaders, and the strength and bravery of the young men and women who were sent to free the world from the greatest evil ever known.
“D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in the history of the world,” said Mr. Urbin. Two million troops were involved. It would be the beginning of the end of Adolf Hitler. Berlin fell within a year of the invasion and the Second World War continued on in the Pacific.
It was a fascinating lecture on a powerful moment in our past – one that altered the history of the world.
This presentation was originally intended to be an in-person event held earlier in the spring at our library. Rather than cancel the program, it was rescheduled and provided to our community in a virtual format. Mr. Urbin said with a smile, “We didn’t let a pandemic get in the way of our Pawling Library program.” Two of our participants, who had previously attended lectures given by Mr. Urbin at other venues, complimented his outstanding ability as a speaker. We are pleased that Jeffrey Urbin will be with us again for another online presentation, Eleanor Roosevelt: Compassion and Betrayal, on Tuesday, July 14, from 7:00-8:00 pm.
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