In Remembrance of D-Day

By: Kelli Krauss

On June 6, 1944, thousands of brave American men stormed the beaches of Normandy, France in order to liberate Europe from the evil hands of the Nazis. America, along with her Allies, changed the course of the war in Europe on that day in June.

Let's remember and honor the sacrifice of those soldiers, of a generation, as President Roosevelt said, "There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny."

We must remember the sacrifice that was made by so many on that day in 1944 and how it has shaped the lives we all live today. We must remember the blood that was shed to stand in the way of tyranny, so that the course of freedom could flow once again.

The following is a portion of the speech President Reagan gave on June 6, 1984 in Normandy on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. We must take these words in and remember that it is now our responsibility not to lose what these brave men fought and died for.

Reagan's words:

"What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love. The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge — and pray God we have not lost it — that there is a profound, moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt. You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you."

In remembrance of D-Day.