June 6, 2019 is the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Project Overlord was the largest air, land, and sea operation undertaken before or since June 6, 1944. The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 service men. When it was over, the Allied Forces had suffered nearly 10,000 casualties; more than 4,000 were dead. Yet somehow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe had been breached.
The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA – right next to Catalyst’s headquarters in Forest, VA – is planning “The Final Salute”, an expansive program combining the best of the Memorial with the best of the D-Day story: a gathering of veterans and the general public at the nation’s memorial to the invasion of Normandy for reflection and remembrance – the story of ordinary people in extraordinary moments.
Catalyst is a proud sponsor of “The Final Salute”, and our sponsorship include much more than a financial or advertising contribution. Catalyst technology is a critical and active component of the day’s events, as we are providing essential radio and dispatch communications for the many activities planned for the day.
Catalyst equipment in support of this event is installed at locations serving Lynchburg Airport, Roanoke Airport, and at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Air Traffic Controllers using our Propulsion(tm) Dispatch software communicates with AM Radios that will be used to coordinate air traffic for the many flyovers of historical aircraft planned and enables intercom – like communications between the Air Traffic Controllers and dispatch attendants at LYH, ROA and at the memorial. We’ll also help communications for ground operations with Gateways connected to Harris P25 radios that communicate over Virginia’s Region 2000 radio network for administration and security support. Throughout all this, Catalyst support personnel are available to insure smooth operations.
Paul Perrone, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Lynchburg Regional Air Show, Inc., the organization responsible for the Aerial Tribute, commented “We are very fortunate to have access to the Catalyst technology which has given our Air Boss a suite of communication tools enhancing his ability to precisely synchronize the aircraft movements with the program events and, most importantly, allow for coordination with adjacent air space controllers, to ensure safe conduct of the event”.
More information about “The Final Salute” can be found at https://www.dday.org/75th/. And if you happen to attend the day’s events, know that Catalyst Communications Technologies is a proud sponsor and technology contributor to this important remembrance.
