America's Minute

This month marked the 78^th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, which took place on June 6, 1944. The purpose of the invasion was to counter the Nazi occupation of Europe and was one of the most important military operations for the western Allies’ success during World War II. This operation, given the code name OVERLORD, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest invasion force in history.  Operation “Overlord” was organized under the command of U.S. General (and later U.S. President) Dwight D. Eisenhower.

On the morning of D-Day, ground troops landed across five assault beaches – Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. By the end of the day, the Allies had successfully established themselves on shore and could begin the advance into France. Leading up to this infamous day, Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered a speech to his troops. Eisenhower said, “I have full confidence in your devotion to duty and skill in battle.
We will accept nothing less than full Victory!” The D-Day invasion was one of the major turning points during World War II, ultimately leading to the defeat of Nazi forces.

World War II was an extremely challenging time for our Nation. The United States had been struggling through the Great Depression of the 1930s and morale was low. To make matters worse, we were blind-sided by the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and thrust into a worldwide conflict before anyone really had time to process what was happening. Suddenly, young men (most no older than 18) were required to serve their nation in unfamiliar countries. Their abilities, skills, and patriotism were pushed to the limits as they fought an evil that they had never encountered.

This time in American History produced what is known as the “Greatest Generation”. The challenges they faced throughout the Great Depression and World War II shaped them into individuals of great integrity, character, and grit. I am proud to have had grandparents and great-grandparents of the Greatest Generation. Their example of hard work ethic and strong faith have been a tremendous example to me. Sadly, this generation is almost gone, but their example still lives on. When we remember significant dates such as D-Day, we are doing more than just recognizing a day in history. We are honoring the legacy of those who came before us.