When General Dwight Eisenhower spoke at the third anniversary of the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, he praised the bravery of American soldiers. The D-Day invasion of Nazi German occupied France led to the liberation of Europe and victory in World War II.

Speaking in Kansas City, Missouri on June 6, 1947, Eisenhower also talked about what America must do in the aftermath of D-Day to completely fulfill the mission. Our goal must be a world at peace, free from the terror that was seen during World War II.

But Eisenhower cautioned we cannot achieve that goal by ignoring the world’s problems. It was this mistake that helped lead to the outbreak of World War II.

Ike said, “It is the hope of all men who cherish peace that we shall not nullify it by return to international apathy. On the anniversary of D-Day, their hope burns strongest. Utter defeat of the Axis was worthy of our supreme effort. But that effort will attain fruition only as we progress to a more distant goal — the lasting security of our nation and humankind against the terror of war.”

The soldiers of D-Day set an example of courage to build a world free from tyranny and war. They defeated the Nazi German menace that had caused horrific suffering and occupation in many countries. It is up to us now to follow through and achieve that world of lasting peace.

Eisenhower reminded everyone about the hunger that always follows war: “We are rich in foodstuffs; one day distant by plane are millions who starve.”

America must lead in feeding the world’s hungry and ending their food shortages. We certainly did this after World War II. Eisenhower organized famine relief during the war and would later create the Food for Peace program when he became president of the United States.

Today, Food for Peace is needed more than ever as we are facing the biggest global hunger crisis since WWII. Today there is conflict and extreme hunger in Sudan, Somalia, Congo, Yemen, Haiti and many other countries. We must respond to the cries of those starving abroad and end war and hunger.

In his speech, Eisenhower set forward a basic strategy for peace to follow D-Day: “Food and material aid, economic guidance and leadership for peace, strength to enforce the peace and the wisdom to join closely with all those who seek more secure peace — if the United States gives these to the world in the measure that we alone can afford, D-Day will have its perfect fulfillment.”

As we commemorate D-Day and the sacrifice of U.S. and Allied soldiers to achieve victory in World War II, let’s remember our mission today. We must follow through to build a world at peace where people are free and do not live in hunger. We can do this with the same spirit of our brave soldiers on D-Day.

William Lambers is the author of “The Road to Peace” and partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His father Vincent was wounded on Omaha Beach after the D-Day landings during minesweeping operations.

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