The Veterans Breakfast Club invites you to a special Greatest Generation Live hosted by Glenn Flickinger. This program will shine a spotlight on an often-overlooked chapter of World War II: the Battle of Normandy from June to August 1944, the brutal and pivotal campaign that followed the famous D-Day landings.

While June 6, 1944—D-Day—has been seared into public memory as a symbol of Allied courage and sacrifice, the bitter, grinding combat that followed in the Norman hedgerows, villages, and fields is less frequently remembered. Yet it was this prolonged and costly battle that ultimately broke the back of German resistance in France and opened the road to Paris and beyond.

Joining Glenn Flickinger is acclaimed military historian Joseph Balkoski, widely recognized as one of the foremost experts on the Normandy campaign. Balkoski is the author of several authoritative works, including the classic Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy. In this deeply researched and vivid account, he tells the story of the 29th Infantry Division’s harrowing fight from Omaha Beach through the hedgerow hell of Normandy, drawing from personal accounts, official records, and battlefield tours he has led for decades.

Joseph Balkoski has been called “the top living D-Day historian” by USA Today, and his work has been praised for its balanced narrative, sharp analysis, and deep respect for the men who served. His other titles include Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and additional volumes on the 29th Division’s role in the European Theater.

This event is free and open to all. Join the conversation, ask questions, and help us remember not just the landing, but the long and deadly struggle that followed.

We’re grateful to UPMC for Life for sponsoring this event!