Did we sleep through D-Day?

June 6^th D-Day passed without much fanfare yet I can guaranty you that every person who ever served in the military has considered what those kids went through on that day.  I remember a friend of mine now long past who was there in that 1^st wave on the beaches of Normandy.  He told me that what got him through it all was that he was more afraid of his Sergeant than the Germans.  That single invasion in Normandy included over 1,000,000 Allies, 700,000 Germans, over 8,000 artillery pieces, 2,500 Allied bombers, 1,700 fighters, 820 German fighters and bombers.  In that attack 2700 Brits, 946, Canadians and 6603 Americans paid the final price for our freedom.  It is estimated that between 4000 and 9000 Germans died.  Another 12,000 American and British Airmen were killed and 200 planes were lost in preparation for this battle.  By the end of the Battle of Normandy over 425,000 total were killed or wounded.

As time passes it seems we take these statistics for granted and don’t equate them with the terrible toll it took to achieve victory.  Can you possibly imagine the unimaginable fear that drove these men as they waded through the bodies of guys they trained with in many cases good friends floating in the surf only to get to the shore and face withering fire from the cliffs above?  Can you even consider the bravery it took to climb down those cargo nets and into the landing craft knowing that it was taking you to Hell.  I’ve been told by more than one survivor of that battle that the only words heard on those craft were that of the Lords Prayer.

It’s gross I know to even think about things like this but we must remember what it cost to maintain freedom.  Once forgotten things tend to be repeated and God help us if that’s the future.  They call those men and woman who fought to preserve our lifestyle in World War II The Greatest Generation, They for the most part not only went through the Great Depression in the 20’s and 30’s but went on after the war to build the greatest, strongest nation ever conceived.  Those who died that day should remain in our memory as long as America exists, they were true heroes of the 1^st degree.  The price they paid should not be in vain but be a constant reminder of our heritage.

They are still there in Normandy on guard, prepared to remind us of the tragedy of war in 77 different cemeteries 9,386 Americans, 17,769 British, 5,002 Canadians, 650 Poles along with 77,866 Germans.  They battle no more as they rest in peace with the knowledge that because of them we are free to live or lives in a Democratic and Free Society.

That’s all I got, won’t you join me in a silent prayer