AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

D-Day 75th Anniversary

Client

American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)

AGENCY

Weber Shandwick

ROLE

Senior Producer, Director, DP

AWARDS

PRSA 2020 Silver Anvil Finalists

THE ASK

As one of the most significant military moments in modern history, there was no shortage of stories about the 75th anniversary of D-Day. And while every anniversary of D-Day is important, ABMC needed the 75th Anniversary to truly be an international moment to honor and remember those who landed on the beaches, delivered liberty, and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Anniversaries like these provide new opportunities to bring the past alive for younger generations. The task was to help ABMC stand out in its own unique and reverent way, illustrating and highlighting its critical role in maintaining these precious spaces and stories for generations to come.

WE REMEMBER

The primary focal point of this project was the “We Remember” video, which played a pivotal role in emphasizing the significance of the 75th anniversary. The creative development process was led by me to ensure a profound impact. It was acknowledged that this event could potentially be the final D-Day ceremony attended by WWII veterans. Consequently, a three-phase approach was devised: Phase 1 immersed the audience in the sights and sounds of war, with a special emphasis on Eisenhower’s speech. Phase 2 featured poignant insights from a veteran regarding the pain and sacrifice endured during D-Day. In Phase 3, our objective was to reassure surviving D-Day veterans that their sacrifices are not forgotten and to underscore our commitment to eternal remembrance.

During the presentation to the client, an emotional moment ensued as she remarked, “I’m not crying; you’re crying.” This sentiment resonated throughout the event as an audience of 15,000 responded with applause and cheers at the conclusion of the impactful “We Remember” video.

RESULTS

Between paid, earned and social media, millions of individuals across the globe were exposed to the impactful stories of the fallen and learned of AMBC’s noble mission. Specifically, 65 million saw it on social media, 427 million read about it online and in print, and 204 million viewed it on U.S. television.

BEHIND THE SCENES

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