69
years ago today,the world decided to test the strength and resolve of
the United States in our effort to free the world from Adolf Hitler.
Over 200,000 troops in 12,000 planes and 5000 boats were about to conduct the largest amphibious invasion in world history, on the first day of D-Day, Operation Overlord had begun.
Many very young American,British and Canadian troops never had a chance to see their young brides again; to see their children or have a chance to get back home and scream out, " Mom and dad I am home."
In one of history's bravest displays, young American men scaled cliffs directly in the gunfire, never relenting even as comrades died all around them. When they had reached the top, the Rangers radioed back the code for success: "Praise the Lord."
The story is told of a group of French women finding Americans and imploring them not to leave. The trooper said, "We're not leaving. If necessary, this is the place we die."
Many of us had a loved one in the war who served. My beloved Uncle Earl (RIP), with hundreds of thousands of other patriotic Americans were willing to risk life to protect freedom. We think of them with lasting gratitude; we miss them with lasting love; and we pray for them. And we trust in the words of the Almighty God, which are inscribed in the chapel close to the beach in France, " I give unto them eternal life, that they shall never perish."
The day will come when no one is left who knew them, when no visitor to the cemeteries can stand before a grave remembering a face and a voice.
The day will never come when America forgets them. And our nation and the world will always remember what they did on D-Day and what they gave for the future of humanity.
God bless America.
Over 200,000 troops in 12,000 planes and 5000 boats were about to conduct the largest amphibious invasion in world history, on the first day of D-Day, Operation Overlord had begun.
Many very young American,British and Canadian troops never had a chance to see their young brides again; to see their children or have a chance to get back home and scream out, " Mom and dad I am home."
In one of history's bravest displays, young American men scaled cliffs directly in the gunfire, never relenting even as comrades died all around them. When they had reached the top, the Rangers radioed back the code for success: "Praise the Lord."
The story is told of a group of French women finding Americans and imploring them not to leave. The trooper said, "We're not leaving. If necessary, this is the place we die."
Many of us had a loved one in the war who served. My beloved Uncle Earl (RIP), with hundreds of thousands of other patriotic Americans were willing to risk life to protect freedom. We think of them with lasting gratitude; we miss them with lasting love; and we pray for them. And we trust in the words of the Almighty God, which are inscribed in the chapel close to the beach in France, " I give unto them eternal life, that they shall never perish."
The day will come when no one is left who knew them, when no visitor to the cemeteries can stand before a grave remembering a face and a voice.
The day will never come when America forgets them. And our nation and the world will always remember what they did on D-Day and what they gave for the future of humanity.
God bless America.
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