As we travel this unbelievably huge country which, we are truly blessed to live in, I am drawn back to the sacrifice that thousands of American 'teenagers' made 80 years ago on the beaches of Normandy France.
What level of apprehension must have washed over them as they climbed down the cargo nets hanging from the sides of the troop transport ships into those tiny Higgins boats not knowing what fate awaits them... Sitting here today I cannot comprehend the absolute horror as the ramps on their transports opened into a barrage of German machinegun and rifle fire trained on the very spots they suddenly occupied on that shoreline.
The only option they had was to advance into the teeth of that fusillade as their comrades were cut down, left and right, ahead and behind... Why did the individuals that perished fall? What roll of the dice cast the fate of those that perished in the full of their youth on that immortal day?
These young gallant heroes, some as young as 16, knew their odds of survival were 50/50 at best yet they knew their duty and carried it out unflinchingly.
Today, 80 years later, on this anniversary of the D-Day Invasion we pay tribute to those that conducted themselves honorably without regard for their own lives to keep the world free from the global domination of a maniacal madman.
The dwindling freedoms we still enjoy 80 years on are a direct result of the enormous sacrifice of the "greatest generation"...
"A Hero Never Truly Dies Until
The Last Time Their Name Is Spoken.
Continue To Honor Them, And They Will Live
FOREVER"
K. Shaffer - The Valhalla Project
Eloquently stated! Walking those hallowed beaches, knowing my dad was there as a medic… still chokes me up. The local French gratitude endures and I hope and pray that our countrymen continue to carry the torch commemorating the valor that paid for our freedom. ~CB
ReplyDeleteI salute you sir for the very fitting commemoration of that fateful day for so many 80 years ago.🇺🇲 Freedom has never been and will never be free.🙏
ReplyDeleteI always think of the opening to the movie "Saving Private Ryan". I found it so hard to watch and just could not imagine being there. The bravery of the kids that gave so much is unimaginable. Thanks for the kind words of remembrance.
ReplyDeleteSince you mentioned the cinema presentation of war, there's been dialog on the true and factual presentation of war films... Saving Private Ryan along with We Were Soldiers and Platoon were noted as being true to the actual circumstances in all aspects.
DeleteWe Were Soldiers-The Final Battle Scene and the Broken Arrow Scene, as well as Platoon Welcome To Nam Scene.
Very good
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ReplyDeleteVery well said Walt. For those of us that come after, I believe it is impossible to truly understand the sacrifice made on our behalf. But, we must continue to try to understand and remember that sacrifice making an effort to understand what our parents did, and from my experience, never bragged about it. They just did their duty.