Last month, the Plains community had a unique opportunity to be a part of history when the World War II Miss Montana airplane did a test flight from Missoula to Plains. Watching the parachutists jump from the plane into an open field was just a small glimpse at what troops experienced during WWII.

The Miss Montana then took off to Normandy, France, where this week it will participate in events commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

It's hard to imagine what the troops, and the families back home, went through during WWII. Even when soldiers are deployed now with the U.S. military, we can't fathom that type of loss and casualties happening. The efforts by the Museum of Montana Flying and the volunteers to restore the Miss Montana are a grand effort to pay tribute to the tens of thousands who served during WWII.

With Memorial Day passed and the Independence Day celebrations just a few weeks away, we're reminded of the great sacrifices made to keep America free. We're thankful to those veterans who have served, and those who continue to volunteer to serve the country.