D-DAY, June 6, 1944

…..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.”

Strengthened by their courage and heartened by their value [valor] and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.

Thank you very much, and God bless you all. ”

– Ronald Wilson Reagan, President of the United States, June 6, 1984

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  1. Pete:

    Man what a thing to have to do.  How does one sleep or even eat?  How about all the guys sitting in landing craft on the 5th waiting for go only to be cancelled by weather?  Greatest Generation indeed….

  2. Lexington Green:

    God bless America.  If we are called to face similar challenges, may we have the strength to meet them.  

  3. joey:

    They were just guys like you or me,  no more no less.  How much did they know about it or even care what some general or politician thought is forever unknown.

    They would have rightly laughed if they would have known they would become the greatest generation tm. 

    Lex you are being called now.  

  4. Grurray:

    Obviously, no one understood for sure what was to happen. They weren’t sitting around the night before mentally preparing for a 96% fatality rate. The incredible part was the way they rallied on the beach.
    In the immortal, inspiring words of Col. George Taylor: 
    “There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here.”