65 years ago today...

[Spitfire]

Thank you!

 

[AmateisGal]

AMEN.

Here is a prayer I found that FDR gave to the American people while D-Day was in progress.

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 goodwill 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 keeness 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 arrogances. 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.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

 

[BegintheBeguine]

June 6, 1944

Thanks also to the Canadians who took Juno Beach.

 

[TraditionalFrog]

Thank you.

Also, a thank you to my grandfather (still living), who arrived in Normandy a few days later on D-Day +2 with the 2nd Armored Division. He will never know how much his sacrifice means to me and his country and those suffering under the Nazi heel.

Again, thank you!

Salute!

 

[Widebrim]

The Hand of Providence was on those men that day. It is up to us to perpetuate the memory of those who, throughout history and everywhere, have suffered and sacrificed so that freedom would be achieved for their and for all generations.

 

[Widebrim]

AMEN.
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.

Notice FDR's mulitiple use of the word, "our." Although diverse in many ways, our nation was ultimately united (as in "United" States). Could we say the same of ourselves today, or have we turned into a balkanized state, one which is unable to claim common heritage and beliefs for itself? Something to ponder on this solemn day.

 

["Skeet" McD]

You're welcome....

I'm spending the day listening to the US CBS all-day broadcast which has been preserved. I got mine from OTRCAT...and it is money well spent. Yes, we know how it ended...but as I listened to the 11:30 summary report a few hours ago, my heart was in my throat; I can't imagine what it must have been like for those who listened to those reports the first time, very likely with loved ones in harm's way. My eyes have been moist every time a new report comes in....for instance, Edward R. Murrow's report from London.

All of us enjoy those freedoms we do because of what the West roused itself to do 70 years ago. It is tragic to consider the malaise the West had fallen into between the wars....and the outcome of all the bright hopes for what would happen after the second one. Let us pray we never have to do it again...but, if we do: let's hope we rise to the task with courage equal to that generation "touched by fire."

Thank you to all veterans, and a prayer for all those who have joined the bivouac of the dead.

"Skeet"

 

[AmateisGal]

Notice FDR's mulitiple use of the word, "our." Although diverse in many ways, our nation was ultimately united (as in "United" States). Could we say the same of ourselves today, or have we turned into a balkanized state, one which is unable to claim common heritage and beliefs for itself? Something to ponder on this solemn day.

Sadly, you bring up a valid point. It was a different nation back then and sometimes, I so wish I had been a part of it.

 

[Kid Mac]

My dad, at 19, piloted a Higgins boat (LCVP) at Utah Beach. He'd previously survived two years in convoy duty and the Battle of the Atlantic. At the close of European operations, he was shipped out to the Pacific theater; he was aboard the Missouri for the treaty signing.

"Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: 'I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.' " -- Ronald Reagan, 6 June 1984.

Mac

 

[Tiller]

RIP to the honorable some who gave all. My Great Uncle was killed on that day. This day is a very sad day for my Grandmother, who named her first born son (my uncle) after her lost older brother. God bless all the men who never came home.

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks also to the Canadians who took Juno Beach.

Absolutely! My thank you was to all the allied forces - airmen, sailors and soldiers- of that day.

(The picture was only chosen because it is an icon.
Could just as well have chosen a picture from Sword, Juno or Gold.)

 

[avedwards]

My hat off to them all (I do take my hat off whenever I pass a monument).

I remember our school chaplain telling us of his experiences as a commander of an American landing craft on Utah beach. Strange how times have changed from when a 21 year old could command a boat.

 

[Miss Sis]

Their sacrifice preserved freedom.

In grateful memory of all who fought for that freedom.