Posted on Jun 6, 2021
Normandy Commemorates D-Day With Small Crowds, But A Big Heart
2K
24
3
13
13
0
https://www.npr.org/2021/06/06/ [login to see] /normandy-commemorates-d-day-with-small-crowds-but-a-big-heart
When the sun rises over Omaha Beach, revealing vast stretches of wet sand extending toward distant cliffs, one starts to grasp the immensity of the task faced by Allied soldiers on June 6, 1944, landing on the Nazi-occupied Normandy shore.
Several ceremonies were being held Sunday to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the decisive assault that led to the liberation of France and western Europe from Nazi control, and honor those who fell.
When the sun rises over Omaha Beach, revealing vast stretches of wet sand extending toward distant cliffs, one starts to grasp the immensity of the task faced by Allied soldiers on June 6, 1944, landing on the Nazi-occupied Normandy shore.
Several ceremonies were being held Sunday to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the decisive assault that led to the liberation of France and western Europe from Nazi control, and honor those who fell.
Normandy Commemorates D-Day With Small Crowds, But A Big Heart
Posted from npr.org
WWII World War Two
D-Day
Military History
Europe
France
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 3
4
4
0
A number of years ago, my youngest son (an Eagle Scout) went with his troop to clean the beach prior to the ceremonies that year.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"These are the men who enabled liberty to regain a foothold on the European continent, and who in the days and weeks that followed lifted the shackles of tyranny, hedgerow by Normandy hedgerow, mile by bloody mile," Britain's ambassador to France, Lord Edward Llewelyn, said at the inauguration of a new British monument to D-Day's heroes.
On D-Day, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. This year on June 6, the beaches stood vast and nearly empty as the sun emerged, exactly 77 years since the dawn invasion.
"These are the men who enabled liberty to regain a foothold on the European continent, and who in the days and weeks that followed lifted the shackles of tyranny, hedgerow by Normandy hedgerow, mile by bloody mile," Britain's ambassador to France, Lord Edward Llewelyn, said at the inauguration of a new British monument to D-Day's heroes.
On D-Day, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. This year on June 6, the beaches stood vast and nearly empty as the sun emerged, exactly 77 years since the dawn invasion.
(4)
(0)
3
3
0
My grandfather observed the 70th commemorative service in Normandy with my uncle. For his emotional healing, my grandfather needed to see the place that forever changed his life.
My grandfather died in the early days of COVID-19. He was admitted for observation after several falls. Doctors discovered that he'd recently had a heart attack and had an active case of pneumonia-like symptoms. He passed away a couple of days later.
Like so many other WWII veterans, he was quiet about his service time. He and my great-uncle (his younger brother) both served and they have left a legacy of service that extends to his son, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.
There are reasons that we call them, "The greatest generation." My grandfather embodied every single one of them.
My grandfather died in the early days of COVID-19. He was admitted for observation after several falls. Doctors discovered that he'd recently had a heart attack and had an active case of pneumonia-like symptoms. He passed away a couple of days later.
Like so many other WWII veterans, he was quiet about his service time. He and my great-uncle (his younger brother) both served and they have left a legacy of service that extends to his son, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.
There are reasons that we call them, "The greatest generation." My grandfather embodied every single one of them.
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google