We Salute Our Gallant Soldiers Who Fought on D-Day

In this time of world uncertainty and political and economic unrest, we oftentimes get so caught up in the challenges of daily living that we forget to remember those brave souls who fought to give us the very freedom that we so often take for granted on a daily basis.  Tomorrow – June 6th marks the 70th anniversary of one of the most important battles for freedom that this world has ever witnessed and was the beginning of the end of the war in Europe.

The Normandy Invasion was the largest seaborne invasion in history with 160,000 of our American  and Allied soldiers fighting to reclaim western Europe from the Germans.  The invasion of this 50 mile stretch of French beach took place early in the morning and ultimately concluded with the liberation of Western Europe in August, 1944.

The landing areas, broken down into beach sections (Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword Beach, and Juno),  were heavily mined and full of deadly booby-traps and dangerous obstacles (such as protruding sharpened wooden stakes, barbed wire, and sharpened metal).  In addition, the Germans guarding the beach were armed with heavy artillery.  However, none of the enemies efforts stopped the Allies push to freedom!

It is estimated that over 4,000 brave soldiers died defending not only the Europeans right to freedom, but ours as Americans, too.  Thousands more returned to their home lands suffering injuries that would forever remind them of their sacrifice for freedom, while countless of their comrades remained missing in action.

We should all pause tomorrow from whatever we are doing to remember and give thanks for these brave soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the ultimate gift of FREEDOM!!!