The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is preparing for D-Day plus 70-Years this week in Abilene.
Major Martin Odonnel, who will portray General Eisenhower on Friday, joined in on the KSAL Morning News with a look at the WWII icon, “Hopefully I do him justice,” he said.
Major O’Donnel is the Deputy Public Affairs Officer for the 1st Infantry Division and admits he’s no expert on the Five-Star General who grew up in Kansas.
“I was reading up on Eisenhower and I did come across that he’s of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. I am originally from Pennsylvania – so maybe there is some linkage there,” he added with laugh.
Major O’Donnel will be delivering Eisenhower’s powerful “Order of the Day” as he portrays Ike during a reenactment on the grounds Friday in Abilene.
The document was distributed to over 170,000 members of the Expeditionary Force on the eve of the invasion. “All the soldiers carried that note with them,” he said. “It was part of their equipment.”
The Remembrance Ceremony begins at 9am Friday and includes a rifle salute.
For more details on the event visit www.eisenhower.archives.gov
