I don't know about the rest of you, but I grew up with this date emblazoned in my mind. For as long as I can remember, June 6th was a day to celebrate the selfless courage of the men who braved all.
So, since we're in the business of creating heroes, I thought it would be appropriate today to celebrate the 75th anniversary.
CBS ran a story that included an interview with a 99 year-old veteran who was one of the first men on the beach.
This video includes touching footage of many of the Royal Marine veterans.
When we're talking craft, we often talk about needing tp create characters who are flawed and dynamic. I think these interviews are interesting because none of the men pretend to be perfect. They admit their fear, praying to God, and wondering if they'd make it. Many of them said they couldn't face the memories for many years after they returned.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. ~JAMES NEIL HOLLINGWORTH
So, in honor of all those who courageously fought their fears because defeating Hitler was so much more important, let us say THANK YOU. Your very lives define the word hero.
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Beautifully said, Cate. Thank you for reminding us of the sacrifice of these brave heroes. And THANK YOU to the heroes of D-Day 75 years ago. We owe you our freedom.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe it's 75 years? Not that I was alive then, but still. I do so much reading about that era that it feels much more recent to me.
DeleteWhat a fantastic post, Cate. Thank you! Let us never forget the sacrifices that were made for our freedom.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharee.
DeleteBeautiful, Cate. Many moons ago I visited Normandy as a high school student. I wish at that time I'd had an inkling of the sacrifices that were made on Normandy Beach and the courage-bravery of our US servicemen. We owe them everything.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been an amazing trip, Belle. And yes, I was trying to impress that upon my students yesterday. Even after D-Day, it took 10 months to bring the war in Europe to an end. Without this selfless bravery, the world might look like a very different place today.
DeleteI've been watching the coverage from Normandy. All so moving. I love seeing the heroes as they recount their stories. Often they bring me to tears. What brave men. God bless them all...and especially those who gave their lives on that beach and scaling those cliffs. Truly, they are the greatest generation.
ReplyDeleteOne of the news pundits said those men knew the USA was the best country in the world and worth dying for. Today we hear of so many who see our country in a different light. If only they could realize the precious price of freedom that was paid by so many during World War II.
Debby, yes. I've enjoyed listening to them. It's so humbling. And did you see the 90+ vet reenacting his parachute jump? My students went wild for that.
DeleteThank you for sharing this, Cate. May we never forget.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Jill. We owe it to them.
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