TOWNHALL:
I’d like to think I always felt pride in our nation. I’d like to think I always displayed respect for our flag and the men and women who serve in our military. I thought I’d seen some great parades, fireworks, and pre-game ceremonies displaying true patriotism in the past.
But I have to be honest. I had to go to Europe to “get it.”
Only one percent of us serve in our nation’s military today. That’s not many who have an immediate family member serving. Only they deeply know and internalize what being a part of that selfless fraternity is all about.
American might, the can-do spirit of winning at all costs, and the awe-inspiring gratitude I always wanted to know and sense and deeply feel about our military and our nation became “real” on my D-Day anniversary trip to rural Europe in early June 2014. If you’ve been you get it.
It’s in the small town of Benouville, France – home to Pegasus Bridge. This little town and this little bridge in the Normandy area of France was the opening scene of the most remarkable military comeback the world has ever known.
Every June 5th and 6th, this village and area residents come out to celebrate the single hour it took Allied forces’ gliders to drop paratroopers in and seize control of this key bridge. The dark of night, total surprise, with known but unseen danger all around – the people of Benouville understand what that meant – and they don’t forget it.
As a kid going thru grade school in the 60’s June 6th and Dec 7th were ingrained into our mushy skulls. We saw films and read about it in our history books. Veterans came to our schools and talked about their experiences. Many of my friends fathers, uncles and grandparents were veterans from that generation. The first gun I ever fired was a Kar 98 of a friends father (he told me the previous owner didn’t need it anymore.) Don’t know if the schools give WW2 anything more than a mention anymore if at all.
I watched a show on Netflix last night about D Day. It was a British production. If you knew nothing about D Day and WWII, you would think the Brits single-handedly invaded Normandy and won the war. Several mentions were made of “the allies”, and Eisenhower, but I only heard one mention of the United States. I am really getting tired of the Brits. Look at the videos of the beaches THEY invaded and then look at the ones our guys invaded.
Every American, if possible, should walk the beaches of Normandy themselves, walk Omaha beach, visit Sainte-Mère-Église, and walk the hallowed grounds of the Normandy Cemetery;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zPJy2dmKYc&t=2s
I took the family about 8 years ago. The day we visited the cemetery it was fairly crowded, but eerily quiet, peaceful, serene. The grounds are impeccably kept.
It is de rigueur for many Europeans to scoff at and ridicule Americans, some of that we deserve, but nations as a whole never forget. The bravery and sacrifice exhibited this day, one of about a thousand reasons to be proud to be an American.
My Dad was a WWII vet (and Korea and Vietnam) and we lived in France from 1960-1963. Dad was the supply officer for the movie “The Longest Day” which we saw multiple times. We went to Normandy several times and even as young as I was, I remember it well. My Dad is gone now but he and all of the WWII veterans will always be alive and appreciated by me.