by Jimmy Mack

Created on: June 08, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Yesterday was the 64th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Europe at Normandy. In this day and age where we consider it a hardship having to stand in line for forty-five minutes to vote, it is hard to imagine what these British and American patriots sacrificed for us. Just think of it: sitting around barracks in Southern England worrying about what was going to happen when, all of a sudden, the word went out that the weather was acceptable and the largest wartime invasion in history, some 800,000 troops ultimately, was given the order to "move out."

So off they went, in the gray mist with gathering seas, to their fearful encounter with the Nazi machine. These were young boys, American, Canadian, and British, tasked with somehow breaking through the beachhead that was Germany and swarming ashore to begin the destruction of the Nazi menace.

They were huddled in troop transports and landing craft, not knowing how terrible the immediate future would be, but nonetheless willing to risk their lives for freedom. Likewise, the advancing paratroopers were flying in the dark skies, and gliding in gliders, to a rear echelon drop to surprise the Germans and help the advancing forces coming from the sea to successful breach the shoreline. Wherever they came from, they did not shirk their duty and followed through to ultimately complete the most successful and most massive military operation in history.

And while we have looked at the situation from the perspective of the troops, who had the greatest risk of life which ultimately determined the outcome, what about their leaders? What were their fears and what were their consequences? After all, General Eisenhower was basically putting the whole Allied military in a situation where, if it failed, would result in the biggest military failure of all time with the potential for world domination by Hitler.

Ike, a cautious man, did not falter when it counted, he made the decision, and the operation was a "go". The entire future of the Free World rested on that decision and Americans and British citizens held their breath when they heard the invasion was underway. At first it didn't look good. Casualties were high, the beach was not being breached, and it was looking like our boys were going to die in vain. But somehow the American and British soldiers' spirit, drive and determination prevailed and despite high casualties the beach was breached, secured and the port operations were begun wherein tons of equipment and supplies and thousands of soldiers moved into France.

At the same time, the paratroopers were opening up the behind the lines hedgerows despite horrible casualty rates and they were able to pester the Germans enough that they couldn't deploy all of their forces at the beachhead. It was a gamble, a gamble that paid off, and the result was the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.

It is true that a lot of work was left to be done..the liberation of Paris, Bastogne, the crossing of the Rhine at Nijmegen and other places, and the crossing of Germany, but the events of June 6, 1944 was the beginning of the end for Germany's ambitions. We and our allies lost thousands of brave young men and women on this day, but let them live on in us as the embodiment of the spirit and willpower of the cause of freedom forever. Let us never forget their sacrifice and what they have done for us. And let us each make a commitment to do whatever we have to do to make sure that the light of freedom and opportunity always shines brightly in the Good Old USA.

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