D_DAY

I do now. It's amazing how it doesn't even make the news anymore. What a shame. I'm embarassed personally, and thanks for mentioning it. In fact Buck Compton was speaking today here at work before noon and I've missed it. Nuts.

bp
 
I did, and the news I listen to, knew it too. Maybe listen to some better news.
 
I knew it because my Dad is a Decorated Veteran of the D-Day landing at Normandy, on Juno Beach. He was presented with his medals by Adrienne Clarkson Governor-General of Canada, Queen Elizabeth of England and also the Governor of the Province of Normandy during the 60th anniversary celebration of D-Day at the Juno Memorial.
 
Check msnbc.com, there is NOTHING on it. What a shame. Good news, the talk was recorded and I'm watching it now.

bp
 
OK, so how many of you guys have been to the D Day memorial in Bedford, VA? If you haven't, you should.
Also, if you don't know why it's in Bedford, you need to know that too.
 
Has no one been to the memorial?
 
Never been to the one in Bedford. I have been to the Juno Beach Memorial,in Normandy. Bedford VA was chosen for the American based memorial because Bedford suffered the highest losses, per capita, on the D-day landings.
 
There was an article in the local newspaper yesterday about the last surviving "Bedford boy".
Out of 30 Bedford soldiers, 19 were killed on D-Day.

Someday, I'd like to visit Normandy.
 
Yep, remembered it yesterday. While not directly related to D-Day, I am currently reading von Manstein's "Lost Victories", which is an interesting read from a different point of view.

I know about the Bedford Memorial, but have not visited it yet. I no longer know any D-Day survivors, although I still know a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was on Ford Island that morning.

From the FDR Library:

Franklin Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer

June 6, 1944

"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 good will 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 keenness 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 arrogancies. 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."
 
If anyone hasn't seen it, look for the made for TV movie, "Ike, Countdown to D-Day" starring, believe it or not, Tom Selleck as Ike. It shows the planning of D-Day at Supreme Command HQ in England.
 
Dang! Yesterday was one of our weekly poker days. Two of the guys are WWII veterans. One in the Pacific and one flew fighters over Europe. Neither one mentioned it. Typical of most of those Heros!
 
Hi All,

This was posted here at work on the 6th. I'm glad it was, because it made me stop, remember and say 'Thanks'.

Greetings:
>
> Today is June 6. Today I wear the shirt that my grand-son gave me because 63 years ago today, my ship was at anchor off Omaha Beach(Normandy) unloading supplies for the embattled U.S. Rangers. I was sixteen (16) years old. It was the job of the Merchant Navy to "deliver the goods" where-ever they were needed and that is what we did, no matter that we were civilians with very little training for battle. I could have no idea of what life must have been like on Omaha Beach until the day my son took me to see the movie: "Saving Private Ryan".
>
I have looked through today's Globe & Mail, National Post and Ottawa Sun but could find no mention of D-Day. The Ottawa Sun did however devote more than half a page, with an appropriate photograph, to a young girl who was growing hair under her armpits because that is what she was doing. That, I suppose is an accurate reflection of Canadian society. And, it sells newspapers which any mention of D-Day would not and that is what is important, I suppose.

Best wishes to everyone,

> Dad

Bcat
 
I remember it every year because it happened on my birthday, which makes it hard to forget. I was two years old when it took place. Had an uncle who participated in the Normandy Invasion and later, the Battle of the Bulge. He was a cook in the army. Passed away in 2002 at age of 82; I miss him, he was quite a character.
 
My Mom remember every year as she was doing the communications for the Juno Beach landings from Canada House in London. She was a sergeant in signals and was overseas for the whole 5 years. Met my father there when he was on a months leave after being shot down in the Med. The rest is history. Dad is gone now and Mom is frail but she still marches the whole route on Nov 11 every year.
 
I think about it often as my dad was a young navy doctor on Omaha Beach the first afternoon. They truely are the "Greatest Generation".
 
The US media has much more important news to keep track of than remembering D Day. Paris Hilton tops the list. Sad where priorities are.
 
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