Did Anyone Remember??

[dmiller]

I admit -- I forgot as well.

Was reminded about it when I tuned into a local talk radio station today.

It was June 6th, 1944 -- 63 years ago.

Allied losses on D-Day included 2,500 killed and 8,500 wounded.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt went on the radio airwaves that evening, and offered this prayer:

"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

The above quoted from GREAT SPEECHES COLLECTION,

where you can hear the original audio as well, from 63 years ago..

:)

[Sudo]

DMiller,

No I hadn't forgotten but hadn't realized it had been 63 years though. 63 years after the American civil war battle of Gettysburg... it was 1927. Just before the depression. I grew up watching WWII movies and even TV shows like Combat. It seems so strange to realize that even the youngest 18 year old soldier at D-Day would now be in his 80's.

Truly that was one of our greatest generations and we're losing thousands of them each year. My dad was a year too young for D-Day but was in the army being trained for the invasion of Japan when we dropped the big one on Hiroshima. He's still working a full time job (though he doesn't need the money) I can proudly report!!

sudo

[polar bear]

Thanks DMiller. My heart is always thankful for what those brave folks did.

[coolchef]

thank you for reminding people

i did not forget

my flag was at half mast

[templelady]

I remembered--but only after being reminded on the news.

That is really sad when you consider that my dad's brother, my Uncle Phil, landed on day three at Omaha. Most people don't realize that there were still German bunkers on the hill even at day three and my uncle came ashore with comrades literally dropping beside him as they were raked by those bunkers.

To my Uncle Phil

To my Uncle Bob

To my Father

To my Great Uncle Donald

To all the rest of the brave men and women who not only landed on D-day but all the other landings in all parts of the world, I offer my thanks and gratitude.

[Belle]

I remembered, but just cause I've always, always, always called my Paw Paw on the anniversary every year to thank him. :wub: