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Today is the anniversary of D-Day. The cross channel invasion that freed Europe and led to the down fall of Nazi Germany.
I am not sure if there are any veterans of D-Day or even World War II on this site. If so, thank you for your service.
I know that there are a few who lived during the War, and many including myself who are children of World War II veterans. My father landed on Utah Beach during the first wave. He seldom spoke of the evebts, the memeory was too traumatic.
We should never forget the sacrifice they made.
RAMI
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Thank you ,Rami,
ALISON
'those who landed on Utah and Omaha were faced with ferocious German resistance.I don't know the
casualty count on Utah,but i know it was high so no wonder your Dad never spoke of it.On Omaha
there were 3,000 killed and 1,200 wounded.We should all bow our heads and give thanks for the sacrifices they made that fateful day.
Ode to the fallen.
They shall not grow old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,we will remember them.Lest we forget.
ALISON
We will remember them!
Every Friday evening at 6.30pm, the ode is recited at my local Returned Services Association (RSA) club. I've never been in the services: my service to my country has been in the classroom. However, my father was in the Air Force (RNZAF), I grew up on a variety of Air Force bases around New Zealand and I'm an associate member of the RSA.
I've also researched my family tree quite extensively, and there are quite a number of ancestors--both collateral and actual who served in a variety of conflicts, including both World Wars and the Boer War. Several never made it home alive.
Lest we forget.
PS
Bike Resources
D-Day
My father was a World War II Veteran. I honor all veterans.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
I Remember The Opening Of Saving Private Ryan
Beaches
Compared to the the other four beaches, Utah was a walkover. They actually landed in thw wrong place, and resistance was much, much lighter than expected. Omaha, however, was exactly where they intended to be, and the politest word I can use is 'nasty'. I have been honoured to have broken bread in France with veterans of both.
The first action of the day was the landing of gliders between Caen and Ousitreham, at Pegasus Bridge, which is worth a visit. The gliders were towed across by Halifax bombers and released six miles off shore, and the 'Rough Guide' to Normandy rather hilariously describes them as being ";aunched from HMS Halifax"
There is also the other aspect of Normandy, and that is the ending of the German Army in the West, at Falaise. I find that memorial, to the Polish First Armoured Division, incredibly moving. The Nazis opened their 'official' war against the Poles, and it was the Poles whi finished them off in France. Very fitting.
My grandfather was at Juno.
My grandfather was at Juno. He never talked about the war, what he did, or experienced. He was a very quiet man. I am darn proud of the work he and other Canadians did that day.