Today we remember D-Day. Tuesday June 6th of 1944, 160,000 Allied soldiers from fourteen countries ranging from 16 to 56 years of age landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily- fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy. Husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons they were, knowing they had a difficult and worrisome duty to do this day, to begin the liberation of Europe and start the end of World War 2. More than 9000 allied soldiers would be killed and wounded and in days ahead families at home waiting would learn the fate of their loved one.
Most of us can only imagine what those men on the Liberty ships might have been thinking and the thoughts and emotions they had waiting for their turn to land on the beach, or anxiety their families at home were having when learning the invasion had started. Today for most young Americans, this day 68 years ago is a brief mention in a school history book or a day on a calendar. Our World War Two Veterans; the husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, of this time are still with us but fewer each passing day.
Take time for a moment of silence to remember the servicemen and their families who gave full measure this day for freedom and if you see a Veteran or know one, shake their hand and thank them for what they did.
To learn more about D-Day visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/ or the work of American Red Cross who followed the soldiers ashore at http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/WW2c.asp
Filed under: Services to Armed Forces | Tagged: American Red Cross, D-day, Service to Armed Forces, World War ll | Leave a Comment »
