June 6, 1944: 10 years ago I had the distinct honor and privilege of participating in the 60th anniversary ceremonies.
Attending with my Marines from the Marine Security Guard Detachment, Paris I was truly humbled to stand on such hallowed and sacred grounds. After President Bush gave his remarks, I was moved to stand on the bluffs overlooking the landing beaches. I was equally moved to stand in reverence with my Marine NCO’s as we paid homage to those brave men that showed such intense courage in the face of such overwhelming danger and chaos.
As we stood overlooking the beaches with the rows of crosses behind us, we happened across a “first waver” who told us his story. We stood there in awe, listening to the tumultuous events that this brave man was recounting. On this day however, it was sunny, pleasantly warm and a slight breeze made the day all the more pleasing; a stark contrast to what this brave sole had experienced some 60 years before.
After we left this member of the “greatest generation” and prepared the “short” walk to the beaches below, I stopped my Marines and asked them to look at the site before them, do not turn back but reflect on the row upon row of crosses behind you. We made the trek to the beaches which were like any other beach one might expect to see along the edge of an ocean, yet the gravity of the events that we were there to pay homage to, began to set in.
When we arrived at the beach, with its placid waters ebbing and flowing in a surreal calm, and we looked at the quite water before us, I asked my Marines to think back to the description of events that we had just heard, the intensity and emotion within the voice of our fellow comrade in arms, even after 60 years separation from that day’s events. I asked them, as small unit leaders, to now put themselves in the moment, see the massive armada assembled before them, see the obstacles and barriers, and understand the “task before them.”
Land on the beach, take the high ground and continue the assault forward.
I then asked them to turn around, see the terrain and consider what they would do, if transported into the same fight, as small unit leaders. We stood there for several minutes and then silently began the short trek back up to the bluffs and the cemetery from where we had just been moments before.
I will not speak for those who were there, but I will speak from the heart on my personal experience. In having that opportunity to walk the line, I was profoundly moved by the experience and will always look at June 6th with a renewed sense of honor for those whom have gone before.
God Bless our comrades in arms who so profoundly laid a chapter in our storied military history on this day, 70 years ago, in 1944.
Attending with my Marines from the Marine Security Guard Detachment, Paris I was truly humbled to stand on such hallowed and sacred grounds. After President Bush gave his remarks, I was moved to stand on the bluffs overlooking the landing beaches. I was equally moved to stand in reverence with my Marine NCO’s as we paid homage to those brave men that showed such intense courage in the face of such overwhelming danger and chaos.
As we stood overlooking the beaches with the rows of crosses behind us, we happened across a “first waver” who told us his story. We stood there in awe, listening to the tumultuous events that this brave man was recounting. On this day however, it was sunny, pleasantly warm and a slight breeze made the day all the more pleasing; a stark contrast to what this brave sole had experienced some 60 years before.
After we left this member of the “greatest generation” and prepared the “short” walk to the beaches below, I stopped my Marines and asked them to look at the site before them, do not turn back but reflect on the row upon row of crosses behind you. We made the trek to the beaches which were like any other beach one might expect to see along the edge of an ocean, yet the gravity of the events that we were there to pay homage to, began to set in.
When we arrived at the beach, with its placid waters ebbing and flowing in a surreal calm, and we looked at the quite water before us, I asked my Marines to think back to the description of events that we had just heard, the intensity and emotion within the voice of our fellow comrade in arms, even after 60 years separation from that day’s events. I asked them, as small unit leaders, to now put themselves in the moment, see the massive armada assembled before them, see the obstacles and barriers, and understand the “task before them.”
Land on the beach, take the high ground and continue the assault forward.
I then asked them to turn around, see the terrain and consider what they would do, if transported into the same fight, as small unit leaders. We stood there for several minutes and then silently began the short trek back up to the bluffs and the cemetery from where we had just been moments before.
I will not speak for those who were there, but I will speak from the heart on my personal experience. In having that opportunity to walk the line, I was profoundly moved by the experience and will always look at June 6th with a renewed sense of honor for those whom have gone before.
God Bless our comrades in arms who so profoundly laid a chapter in our storied military history on this day, 70 years ago, in 1944.
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Normandy Beach
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I think of the patriotism these men had risking their lives for freedom against fascist tyranny. Those days, people didn't question their government, they just followed orders and led the way to victory.
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