A U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kurt Thompson, deputy commander

A U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kurt Thompson, deputy commander of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), center, places a wreath during a ceremony at the Rex Combs Memorial in the Normandy region June 4, 2015. More than 380 service members from Europe and affiliated D-Day historical units are participating in the 71st anniversary as part of Joint Task Force D-Day 71. The task force, based in Sainte Mere Eglise, France, is supporting local events across Normandy, June 2-8, 2015, to commemorate the selfless actions by all the Allies on D-Day that continue to resonate 71 years later.