Memorial Day and D-Day anniversary are good times to publish and air stories about veterans

With Memorial Day and the 70th anniversary of D-Day approaching, it's a good time for newspapers to reflect on veterans and the local, state and national heroes who served our country. The Indiana University School of Journalism has some great resources for media outlets needing a jump start on the two historic dates, including access to columns written by World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle (right) immediately following the June 6, 1944 attack on Normandy. Pyle was killed in 1945 by Japanese gunfire.

Here are three columns by Pyle, as provided by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors: A Pure Miracle; The Horrible Waste of War; and A Long Thin Line of Personal Anguish.

ISWNE asks that if editors using the material to consider adding a paragraph about the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum in Dana, Ind. Donations can be made through the museum website by clicking here. More stories by Pyle can be found by clicking here. Additional questions can be directed to Stephen Key of the Hoosier State Press Association by clicking here.