Seventy-Three Years Ago

[dales]

Even though we have a boob in the WH, I thank the Good Lord for these men's brave exploits.

[Long Run]

Thanks for reminding us to give thanks.

[ex-khobar Andy]

My father's landing craft LCT2302 on the beach that day. Official US Army photo my sister found a year or two before he died.

Edited to correct designation of the landing craft. Built in Kansas City per http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/19602.html which is only about 100 miles from where I now live.

[Burning Petard]

My definition of human nobility--the men who got off those LST's and onto the beach.

snailgate.

[Lord Jim]

My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

[Econoline]

Let’s Never Forget Just How ENORMOUS D-Day Really Was


Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy. This figure includes over 209,000 Allied casualties, with nearly 37,000 dead amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 deaths amongst the Allied air forces.

There was really nothing else like it...ever.

Or since.

[rubato]

Every American who can should visit the cemetery at Colville-sur-mer in Normandy. It is holy ground. The land was ceded to the United States by the government of France so that the American Flag could be flown over it and the Americans interred there are buried facing across the Atlantic to their home country. In my experience the French people are deeply respectful of the price paid and of the sacredness of the site where such a high price was paid. We do honor to those who showed such faith in us and in our government when we show confidence in our own ability to govern.


yrs,
rubato

[BoSoxGal]

[Guinevere]

Every American who can should visit the cemetery at Colville-sur-mer in Normandy. It is holy ground. The land was ceded to the United States by the government of France so that the American Flag could be flown over it and the Americans interred there are buried facing across the Atlantic to their home country. In my experience the French people are deeply respectful of the price paid and of the sacredness of the site where such a high price was paid. We do honor to those who showed such faith in us and in our government when we show confidence in our own ability to govern.


yrs,
rubato

I'm hoping to finally get there next year. In the throes of early planning now.

[RayThom]

Here's a vid of the cemetery and memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer from fourteen years ago. Sadly, I'm sure all the old soldiers seen here are now gone... but also not forgotten.



“There's a graveyard in northern France where all the dead boys from D-Day are buried. The white crosses reach from one horizon to the other. I remember looking it over and thinking it was a forest of graves. But the rows were like this, dizzying, diagonal, perfectly straight, so after all it wasn't a forest but an orchard of graves. Nothing to do with nature, unless you count human nature.” -- Barbara Kingsolver