Pellet Fan
All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: Kristin Meredith on June 06, 2020, 08:51:45 AM
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A few years back, we had the priviledge of visiting the American Cemetery at Normandy and walking Pointe du Hoc and some of the cliffs and were able to look down on the beaches that all those men had to take on June 6, 1944.(Bentley will post some of the photos later) It was an incredible experience that I wish all Americans could have. So I wish to remember all those men today and I am posting significant portions of Ronald Reagan's speech given at Pointe du Hoc on June 6, 1984 during the 40th year memorial of the landings.
"We're here to mark that day in history when the Allied armies joined in battle to reclaim this continent to liberty. For 4 long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved, and the world prayed for its rescue. Here in Normandy the rescue began. Here the Allies stood and fought against tyranny in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history.
We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but 40 years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance.
The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers -- the edge of the cliffs shooting down at them with machineguns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After 2 days of fighting, only 90 could still bear arms.
Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.
Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your ``lives fought for life . . . and left the vivid air signed with your honor.''
I think I know what you may be thinking right now -- thinking ``we were just part of a bigger effort; everyone was brave that day.'' Well, everyone was. Do you remember the story of Bill Millin of the 51st Highlanders? Forty years ago today, British troops were pinned down near a bridge, waiting desperately for help. Suddenly, they heard the sound of bagpipes, and some thought they were dreaming. Well, they weren't. They looked up and saw Bill Millin with his bagpipes, leading the reinforcements and ignoring the smack of the bullets into the ground around him.
Lord Lovat was with him -- Lord Lovat of Scotland, who calmly announced when he got to the bridge, ``Sorry I'm a few minutes late,'' as if he'd been delayed by a traffic jam, when in truth he'd just come from the bloody fighting on Sword Beach, which he and his men had just taken.
There was the impossible valor of the Poles who threw themselves between the enemy and the rest of Europe as the invasion took hold, and the unsurpassed courage of the Canadians who had already seen the horrors of war on this coast. They knew what awaited them there, but they would not be deterred. And once they hit Juno Beach, they never looked back.
All of these men were part of a rollcall of honor with names that spoke of a pride as bright as the colors they bore: the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Poland's 24th Lancers, the Royal Scots Fusiliers, the Screaming Eagles, the Yeomen of England's armored divisions, the forces of Free France, the Coast Guard's ``Matchbox Fleet'' and you, the American Rangers.
Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love.
The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge -- and pray God we have not lost it -- that there is a profound, moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.
You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.....
We in America have learned bitter lessons from two World Wars: It is better to be here ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We've learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent.
But we try always to be prepared for peace; prepared to deter aggression; prepared to negotiate the reduction of arms; and, yes, prepared to reach out again in the spirit of reconciliation.....
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.
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Thank you for this post.
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Can not even imagine. We visited Arlington National Cemetery a few years ago. What an emotional experience.
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Thanks for reminding us of the sacrifices that were made to keep us free.
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The news media sure is not going to remember, and as a society we don't seem to care about the past or our History! That scares me.
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The news media sure is not going to remember, and as a society we don't seem to care about the past or our History! That scares me.
I agree 100% Bentley.
MK
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Thanks Kristin and Bentley for posting the speech and photos.
And thanks to all the soldiers that were part of the D-Day battle.
Bentley, you're correct on the lack of news coverage. Not one mention during last night's news about D-Day observances today. And I doubt there will be this evening. Sad commentary on modern society's values.
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So much given by so many so we can be free. I REMBER - Thank YOU!
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We did not have a great deal of time to wander in the cemetery, but we did have some time. Maybe it sounds silly, but I tried to stop at as many graves as possible and read the name and rank and say the soldiers name out loud and tell him thank you and that I remember them and what they did. I hope there are others in the future who will also remember. It was interesting to see that buses of French school kids and teenagers were there that day. They were very respectful and interested. Funny that the French seemed to honor our men more than Americans are remembering to do so.
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Refreshing this thread today. Always remember, always be grateful for the courage and sacrifice of others.
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Thank you
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We owe so much to those who gave!
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The news media sure is not going to remember, and as a society we don't seem to care about the past or our History! That scares me.
It is a very sad commentary on the current state of our Great Country.
Thank God for these men and womens sacrifice, may it never be in vain.
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Been there. Almost the same pics. Beautiful sculpture at the entry area with cherry trees. Most people there did not talk much. Indelible memory as part of a river cruise from Paris to Normandy. Looking for the pics.:
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78 years ago today. Always remember, always honor their courage and sacrifice.c
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Been think about how I have seen nothing about this in ANY of the "main stream" media. I wonder if a 10 year old in 1875, when 1927 rolled around was saying, why does no one remember July 3, 1863 or April 9, 1865?
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Been think about how I have seen nothing about this in ANY of the "main stream" media. I wonder if a 10 year old in 1875, when 1927 rolled around was saying, why does no one remember July 3, 1863 or April 9, 1865?
Even our president made no comment until around 8PM. But not really surprising.
I watched the uncut films on the History Channel, and was amazed at the guts it took to take Omaha Beach. Thought about my 17y/o cousin who lied about his age to enlist and ended up trapped at Bastogne. He was then 19, and had been promoted to Lieutenant. (they called them 90 day wonders) He was liberated from Bastogne by George Patton. His hero for life thereafter.
My father was "4F" but a skilled mechanic. So he volunteered to set up training centers to teach GI's how to care for and repair vehicles. He wore a Warrant Officers uniform and was saluted as an officer. For a while our family lived in military camps in Texas. Those were the most formative years of my life, and this country was "all in", on the war effort. That is why I always remember D Day. I also remember Dec. 7, 1941. I was 5 y/o and remember listening to FDR give his
Day in Infamy!" speech on the family radio. I was too young to understand, but everything soon changed.
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If you can believe the guys from Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Army's 101st Airborne Division they did not need Patton to "save" them.
He was liberated from Bastone by George Patton.
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If you can believe the guys from Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Army's 101st Airborne Division they did not need Patton to "save" them.
He was liberated from Bastone by George Patton.
The siege only lasted 7 days, and McAuliffe was a real cocky character, (a lot like Patton). Maybe Patton did not "save" them but he sure scared the Germans into retreating.
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The media may have forgot but the residents of our adult community did not. Almost every house has an American flag flying in the front yard, and quite a few also fly a service flag. They have been up since Memorial Day and go back up for every appropriate day such as Veterans Day, 4th of July, etc.
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Who will remember after we are all gone?
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It is amazing how much WWII history seems to be forgotten by most. The other major battle of WWII whose 80th anniversary was this week is Midway. Midway turned the tide of the war in the pacific. Japan wanted the US to stay out of the war. The plan for Pearl Harbor and later Midway was to knock out the US carriers and leave the west coast of the US exposed. With all of our carriers destroyed, Japan felt they could get the US to agree to stay out of the war. It didn't happen because of Midway.
Hollywood has done a descent job in the last 25 years portraying what WWII was really like. My oldest daughter was in high school when "Saving Private Ryan" came out. The movie awakened memories the grandfathers of some her classmates wished were forgotten forever. They stormed the beach at Normandy. The recent "Midway" movie was done really well in terms of being historically accurate. I encourage all of my kids to watch both movies though it seems like ancient history to them.