Dave Edwards and “It’s Just my Take”, D-Day edition
6-7-24
This week, we mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. A major turning point in the war against the Nazi’s was about to unfold, and so many would put their lives on the line that day. As someone fascinated and in awe of our efforts that fateful day, I can’t help but reflect.
Just 4 years ago, we took a trip to France with fellow Travel Leaders adventurers, and almost to a tee, we all greatly anticipated the visit to the Utah and Omaha beaches. I had witnessed hundreds of movies, documentaries and newsreels that showed what that day was like for our soldiers, but standing there where it happened…was spiritual. To see the fortified German positions, expertly positioned to rain terror on our boys. How we made it off those beaches was extraordinary.
Then, we followed with a visit to the Normandy American cemetery where over 9,300 of our service men and women are buried, which was beyond words. Especially when you see so many crosses that recognize unidentified soldiers interred at the cemetery.
The men and women of that “greatest generation” earned that title. With so few surviving members left, a ceremony similar to this week’s is unlikely to ever happen again. Let us salute those that we have lost, but continue to celebrate those that remain…and listen as they tell the stories we should never forget.
