Today, on Charles Durning’s birthday, we remember him not only as a prolific actor and 15-time National Memorial Day Concert performer, but also as a hero of WWII. In 2013, Joe Mantegna and Ronan Tynan paid this moving tribute to Charles Durning. | National Memorial Day Concert (PBS)

On D-Day, Charles Durning was one of the thousands of Americans who stormed the beaches of Normandy. We share Purple Heart recipient his emotional story from the 2004 National Memorial Day Concert. Ten years earlier, my PE teacher friend & I met Charles in the hot dog line at the Rose Bowl. It was an amazing honor. Charles Durning died on Christmas Eve 2012. He was 89🙏🫡 | The Penn State Bank Button Society