Today is D-Day 6th June 2004

Well today is the day and although it happens every year this one feels a bit weird being the sixtieth.

So I just thought I would start a post on this important day to remember just what was happening 60 years ago today. The fear the adrenaline and everything else being felt by soldiers (children, even). Imagine as dawn breaks on that day and all you can see as you approach the coast is the German Army already dug in and by that point is waiting for you.

We should realise the ultimate sacrifice made by many of them that ultimately shaped or at the very least preserved the future we are in today. Without the courage of those men some of which we talk to on this forum we can only imagine what life today would have been like under German rule, but I am sure we all know its not an image we like to hold for long.

So spend a few minutes having a long think about that day as I am sure many of you have already done.

I offer my deepest thanks to all those men and women over the course of the war not just on D-Day, that ensured I get to choose my path in life rather than have it chosen for me.

Please post your own comments and lets preserve this post as important one to refer to on these forums in the future.

 

I am glad the veterans have good weather for their commemorations, as if I recall correctly, on the 50th anniversary in 1994 it rained hard.

So far, I think that the events on TV have been very dignified.

Having been born in 1947, I remember the wartime generation as young adults, the parents of my generation. I remember when children in my agegroup would be asked "What was your dad in during the war?" - and feeling sorry for the children who had to admit that their dads had worked in a factory.

Now the veterans have become old men.

Ah well, sic transit gloria mundi! (thus the glory of the world passes)

 

Remembering the men of the 53 Welsh Division who fell in the Normandy Campaign.

Mewn angof ni chant
In our memory they will be

 

Originally posted by Lee Wisener@Jun 6 2004, 06:34 AM


I offer my deepest thanks to all those men and women over the course of the war not just on D-Day, that ensured I get to choose my path in life rather than have it chosen for me.




Lee

Of all the words that have been written and spoken about WW2 and D-Day these few words say it all,for me.

Stephen

 

Originally posted by STEVEN+Jun 6 2004, 12:45 PM-->(STEVEN @ Jun 6 2004, 12:45 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-Lee Wisener@Jun 6 2004, 06:34 AM


I offer my deepest thanks to all those men and women over the course of the war not just on D-Day, that ensured I get to choose my path in life rather than have it chosen for me.




Lee

Of all the words that have been written and spoken about WW2 and D-Day these few words say it all,for me.

Stephen [/b]Amen to that!

 

I would like to thank the men and women who fought and died,and to those who came home,you are all heroes, I have lived a war free life for 58 years and it has been a good one,and all because of your sacrifise.
A quote from the film Band of Brothers, (Grandad were you a hero in the war,No son, but I was in a company of heroes)



WE MUST NEVER FORGET...

 

I can assure you all the sentiments expressed here were very much alive this weekend in Normandy; my party of vets could hardly walk 5 yards without getting kissed by French women thanking them for freedom and liberty... something of course it was hard to pull the lads away from!

We owe them a lot. We always have done. Perhaps for the first time this weekend many people have realised this, and thankfully the vets have been here to see it...

 

Originally posted by Paul Reed@Jun 7 2004, 12:57 PM
I can assure you all the sentiments expressed here were very much alive this weekend in Normandy; my party of vets could hardly walk 5 yards without getting kissed by French women thanking them for freedom and liberty... something of course it was hard to pull the lads away from!

We owe them a lot. We always have done. Perhaps for the first time this weekend many people have realised this, and thankfully the vets have been here to see it...


Paul

I wish i had been in your shoes over this past weekend.To have acompanied The Veterans over the course of the weekend would have been an absolute honour.One that one day i hope to have.

Stephen

 

Phew, well I have made it back after being in Normandy since the 5th. I can honestly say it was one of the most moving times of my life. More than once I was holding back a few tears.

I have to go through over 850 photos now to mount in an album and to post to my website.

Just for starters here's one taken at Beny-sur-Mer CWGC near Juno Beach on Wed 9th June. I happened across the official VAC (Veterans Asso. Canada) sponsored tour - superb!

I managed to speak to a few folk including the organiser who is going to fill me in on all the names & details for every veteran featured here.

Ryan