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June 6, 1944


Jack Aubrey
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General Dwight D. Eisenhower's address to the invasion forces, June 6, 1944:

 

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS

ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

 

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have

striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The

hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.

In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on

other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war

machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of

Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

 

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well

equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

 

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of

1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats,

in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their

strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home

Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions

of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.

The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to

Victory!

 

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in

battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

 

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great

and noble undertaking.

 

 

SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

 

 

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Not trying to be controversial here, but I just wanted to make this point.

 

I understand and appreciate the patriotism associated with D-Day. The part that trips me up is "let us not forget".

 

This even didn't happen in my lifetime, and it didn't even happen in my parents' lifetime. To most of the world today, this is an event in a history book. At some point, it becomes like somebody citing the Battle of Gettysburg (or the shots fired on Fort Sumter, depending on your part of the country) and saying "let us not forget".

 

On the other hand, what happened on 9-11 is totally relateable to today's world because nearly everyone on the planet remembers what they were doing/where they were when they first heard the news.

 

All I got, carry on.......

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QUOTE (Rush Cocky @ Jun 6 2012, 10:24 AM)
Not trying to be controversial here, but I just wanted to make this point.

I understand and appreciate the patriotism associated with D-Day. The part that trips me up is "let us not forget".

This even didn't happen in my lifetime, and it didn't even happen in my parents' lifetime. To most of the world today, this is an event in a history book. At some point, it becomes like somebody citing the Battle of Gettysburg (or the shots fired on Fort Sumter, depending on your part of the country) and saying "let us not forget".

On the other hand, what happened on 9-11 is totally relateable to today's world because nearly everyone on the planet remembers what they were doing/where they were when they first heard the news.

All I got, carry on.......

It didn't happen in your lifetime so you don't understand why we should remember it?!

 

As was said in another thread recently: whiskey tango foxtrot?

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QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ Jun 6 2012, 11:35 AM)
It didn't happen in your lifetime so you don't understand why we should remember it?!

As was said in another thread recently: whiskey tango foxtrot?

Logic here: how can I remember what I never personally experienced?

 

That was really the point.

 

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QUOTE (Rush Cocky @ Jun 6 2012, 11:28 AM)
QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ Jun 6 2012, 11:35 AM)
It didn't happen in your lifetime so you don't understand why we should remember it?!

As was said in another thread recently: whiskey tango foxtrot?

Logic here: how can I remember what I never personally experienced?

 

That was really the point.

The logic in it is that we have learned and heard stories about it. When people say "don't forget" or "remember", they're saying do not lose the memories/facts of the people who risked their lives for us. smile.gif I mean, if it weren't for them...Where would we be without 2.gif ??

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QUOTE (Rush Cocky @ Jun 6 2012, 11:28 AM)
QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ Jun 6 2012, 11:35 AM)
It didn't happen in your lifetime so you don't understand why we should remember it?!

As was said in another thread recently: whiskey tango foxtrot?

Logic here: how can I remember what I never personally experienced?

 

That was really the point.

It's not the event to never forget. The point is never forget that the reason why we still live in a relatively free society today is because the brave men of the allied forces either survived or were blown into bits to protect said free society. So don't forget them, is the point.

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My host family in Normandy haven't forgotten anything. 80% of their city (Caen) was destroyed in the D-Day invasion.......and they are still very grateful to the Allies for removing the Nazis.

 

We should never forget the necessity of the Invasion, as well as the Allied defeat of the Nazis. No matter how old or young we are, we do owe our freedom to the Allies of 70 years ago.

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QUOTE (Workaholic Man @ Jun 6 2012, 01:16 PM)
My host family in Normandy haven't forgotten anything. 80% of their city (Caen) was destroyed in the D-Day invasion.......and they are still very grateful to the Allies for removing the Nazis.

We should never forget the necessity of the Invasion, as well as the Allied defeat of the Nazis. No matter how old or young we are, we do owe our freedom to the Allies of 70 years ago.

Hard to believe it's creeping up 100 years.

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mmm, bravery drool1.gif favorite! new_thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

 

i am very glad to honor those who live(d) it wub.gif

 

so admirable!!! 1287.gif

 

many Thanks to those that faught, served or died for our freedom! trink38.gif

 

i shudder to think what my circumstances might be today if they/you hadn't scared.gif

 

thank you for starting this thread, Jack! trink39.gif

i didn't realize what today was, only sensed a "disturbance in teh Force"

thank you for the reminder!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ Jun 6 2012, 07:35 AM)
QUOTE (Rush Cocky @ Jun 6 2012, 10:24 AM)
Not trying to be controversial here, but I just wanted to make this point.

I understand and appreciate the patriotism associated with D-Day.  The part that trips me up is "let us not forget".

This even didn't happen in my lifetime, and it didn't even happen in my parents' lifetime.  To most of the world today, this is an event in a history book.  At some point, it becomes like somebody citing the Battle of Gettysburg (or the shots fired on Fort Sumter, depending on your part of the country) and saying "let us not forget".

On the other hand, what happened on 9-11 is totally relateable to today's world because nearly everyone on the planet remembers what they were doing/where they were when they first heard the news.

All I got, carry on.......

It didn't happen in your lifetime so you don't understand why we should remember it?!

 

As was said in another thread recently: whiskey tango foxtrot?

Hey RC,

 

Sounds pretty cold don't you think? It doesn't matter when one was around or born. If it wasn't for the brave men and women back then. You wouldn't be enjoying the freedoms you have now. And the chances are pretty high you wouldn't have even been born. wink.gif

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QUOTE (Rush Cocky @ Jun 6 2012, 11:28 AM)
QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ Jun 6 2012, 11:35 AM)
It didn't happen in your lifetime so you don't understand why we should remember it?!

As was said in another thread recently: whiskey tango foxtrot?

Logic here: how can I remember what I never personally experienced?

 

That was really the point.

Please tell me you're kidding.

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QUOTE (ShlappinDahBass @ Jun 6 2012, 11:06 AM)
We will never forget.

Don't be so sure.

 

As time passes, more and more people will grow up even more distanced from WWII. Very soon, all soldiers and survivors of that horrible war will be dead. ALL first-hand knowledge of it will be gone. All we will have will be our history books and videos. It's quite possible that WWII will soon be just as "unimportant" to people as the Civil War or the American Revolution.

 

In 100 years, will anyone care about D-Day, WWII, or The Holocaust? The cynic in me says NO.....it'll all be just quaint factoids in seldom-used history data-discs......

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