The 75th Anniversary – D-Day

Every day of the year is an anniversary for something. The same goes with every hour, minute and second.

Every moment of time is an anniversary for something.

For example. Today is the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion that started the downfall of Nazi Germany. Which hour did it start? What minute did the first person land on the beaches of Normandy? Which second did someone first die as the invasion began?

I had no relatives that I know of involved on this fateful day, but I know many who were a part of this strategic push to end World War II. Locally, a reporter interviewed a 100-year-old tank commander who was there, and days later when getting his tanks all on the ground for the push inland, they were still taking enemy fire.

From the present, looking at the past, unless you were there you have no idea what it was truly like. I’ve watched the first 20 minutes or so of “Saving Private Ryan” and when it hit the theaters in 1998, soldier survivors felt like they were reliving the horror of that day. In fact, news reports told of soldiers walking out because it was too realistic.

So. Please. Think about it today. 75 Years Later, we know the Allied forces banded together to take out a tyrant. Thousands and thousands of casualties which included the dead, wounded and missing. [Source] Every hour of this day and every second of the hour is an anniversary of someone who passed, was wounded, or was lost forever to the horrors of war. Less we think it’s about a single day, consider the challenges that were faced, and the odds that were stared down, and the great sacrifice that war inflicts.

I listened to Dave Ross’s commentary this morning on his radio news/talk show on KOMO Radio. Why did so many have to die, and why did we have to fight the war? Sometimes war is necessary to stop the evil that will conquer everything in its path.

To the planners and the fighters of this day. I salute your sacrifice and thank you for the safety you provided to the entire world.

Do you want to know more? Check out this book about the accounting of the fallen on D-Day. [Source]