"Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world."
- Opening portion of the remarks by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Powers Europe, prepared and sent to the troops just before the commencement of the D-Day invasion and released to the press in written and radio format once fully underway, June 6, 1944
With those words, which ended with a request for Almighty Providence to guide and protect our warriors and lead them to victory, the long awaited push across Europe began to put a stop to the madness of Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich. It is, of course, one of the most written about and studied events in military history and large numbers of American soldiers died on that first confusing and fateful day to gain a beachhead in France. Yet, it was just one of hundreds of huge confrontations that America has faced in her history beginning with the American Revolution and many battles and places that are never talked about yielded the same result, large numbers of Americans dying for freedom.
The slide show above is labeled to show where each picture was in time and place and conflict, but they are just a few examples. Americans have died in untold numbers where they have been called. We don't have to like it, just acknowledge it and realize in so doing, they gave their country the ultimate sacrifice.
It happened at Valley Forge, Saratoga, Gettysburg, Richmond, Verdun, Normandy, El Alamein, Guadalcanal, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and many more. Sadly, it will continue from time to time as long as evil tries to gain by force the destruction of freedom.
They died that we may live and it is only appropriate that on this day we take a moment of silence and offer a prayer of thanks for what they did. If you are with friends or family, perhaps it is just a great time to gather around the flag as we honor them. Perhaps those in attendance who have had their lives personally touched by the loss of someone dear to them in combat will offer comments. Regardless, remembering and never forgetting them is so important for our future if we ever want to try and end war, as unlikely as that might be in a troubled world. But remembering them is the least we can do.
God bless America, sleep well, fallen heroes and I trust that those of us who live with God always in our hearts may see those heroes again. I truly believe they all have earned a special place at His table. Have a blessed day.
- Opening portion of the remarks by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Powers Europe, prepared and sent to the troops just before the commencement of the D-Day invasion and released to the press in written and radio format once fully underway, June 6, 1944
With those words, which ended with a request for Almighty Providence to guide and protect our warriors and lead them to victory, the long awaited push across Europe began to put a stop to the madness of Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich. It is, of course, one of the most written about and studied events in military history and large numbers of American soldiers died on that first confusing and fateful day to gain a beachhead in France. Yet, it was just one of hundreds of huge confrontations that America has faced in her history beginning with the American Revolution and many battles and places that are never talked about yielded the same result, large numbers of Americans dying for freedom.
The slide show above is labeled to show where each picture was in time and place and conflict, but they are just a few examples. Americans have died in untold numbers where they have been called. We don't have to like it, just acknowledge it and realize in so doing, they gave their country the ultimate sacrifice.
It happened at Valley Forge, Saratoga, Gettysburg, Richmond, Verdun, Normandy, El Alamein, Guadalcanal, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and many more. Sadly, it will continue from time to time as long as evil tries to gain by force the destruction of freedom.
They died that we may live and it is only appropriate that on this day we take a moment of silence and offer a prayer of thanks for what they did. If you are with friends or family, perhaps it is just a great time to gather around the flag as we honor them. Perhaps those in attendance who have had their lives personally touched by the loss of someone dear to them in combat will offer comments. Regardless, remembering and never forgetting them is so important for our future if we ever want to try and end war, as unlikely as that might be in a troubled world. But remembering them is the least we can do.
God bless America, sleep well, fallen heroes and I trust that those of us who live with God always in our hearts may see those heroes again. I truly believe they all have earned a special place at His table. Have a blessed day.
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