June 6th, 2008...A day that pretty much passed without fanfare

I can remember when June 6th meant something to America, and I can remember a time when our media outlets rushed to outdo each other to see who could deliver the most patriotic and moving memorial broadcast dedicated to those who gave their lives on this day in 1944 on a series of beaches around Normandy France.

On that day in 1944, the Germans occupying France awoke to see more than 5,000 ships--the largest invasion fleet ever assembled--floating offshore. 12,000 Allied planes flew missions an that day as 155,000 American, British and Canadian troops swarmed ashore, some under incredibly fierce fire.

When the first day was over, more than 1,500 American soldiers, airmen and sailors were dead, as were a number of allied troops. But they held on in the face of overwhelming odds, and they finally established the beachhead that opened the door to the eventual liberation of Europe.

Many of our soldiers still lie in cemeteries in that area. A lot of brothers, sons and husbands never came home. For a while, France was grateful, but that's long since changed. Still, America remembers.

Or at least we used to. I saw nothing in today's papers or the major internet news sites about what this day is supposed to commemorate. Nothing on the TV news. It was just another day. It's like it never even happened. But this is new, because it wasn't long ago when this day's anniversary WAS news, and we all took a few moments to remember those who never came home, reflect on what they did, and show appreciation to our vets and soldiers today.

Did something change recently? Doesn't it matter any more? It was the same back on December 7th, when it seemed that no one mentioned Pearl Harbor. I thought it odd then, because I remember a day when every paper had it on the front pages, and all the news shows spared a few minutes of recognition, but it passed without mention. Just like June 6th did today.

Well screw the rest of you. I won't forget. It's too important and too central to the American experience and our nation's identity. in 1944 and 1945, America saved the world. We saved it from the Nazis and the Japs, and for the next half-century, we protected the free world from the Soviet menace. And as long as we were carrying the water and paying the costs, both in money and blood, the world loved us.

But now the job's done and much of the ungrateful world resents us, apparently having forgotten the fact that most of them would be speaking German, Japanese or Russian today but for us. Even worse, many so-called "Americans" no longer love or support this country. Either angry because they're side lost the last two elections, or afraid and unwilling to give back to this country by sacrificing anything to support our war effort and today's heroes overseas, they bitch and backstab and make me want to deport them by the thousands, perhaps in trade for some of those people from other lands who still remain grateful to us for freeing them from post-WW2 Communist oppression.

On a day like today, I want to remember and thank those who went to fight for the fate of the world in Europe and the Pacific, and especially those who never returned.
And I want to leave this link to a great speech by one of our greatest President, Ronald Reagan, a man who did as much to free the world in the 1980s as FDR did in the 1940s.

From President Reagan's speech at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy France, June 6, 1984:

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, 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.