At the end of an Historic week for Our President, he made the traditional Journey to the Beaches of Normandy, for the Ceremony honoring D-Day.
Seeing those barren sands, areas once drenched in the blood and tissues of Allied heroes, remnants of the Nazi defenses, the rows of crosses, the “Soldier Crosses” of helmet on rifle butt, brings it all home once more ; They truly saved The World, and deserve the moniker “The Greatest Generation“.

As a Patriotic sort, I watch these events, and all the speeches every year, all that’s available.
This year two major thoughts occurred to me; (1), The remaining Veteran’s who are able to make it to France is quickly declining each year. More are in Wheel Chairs and using Walkers each year. For every one of the Vet’s who are able to make it to these Memorial ceremonies, there are dozens who are spending the last days of their lives in Veteran’s Hospitals, Medicare funded Nursing homes, and other lonely places that are all Far Less than what these humble Heroes deserve., One veteran made it to France this year, left yesterday’s gatherings because he wasn’t feeling well, and died in his sleep last night.
Sad, Yes, but in another sense, he died in close proximity to all those friends and strangers who strove for survival and Victory, those bloody days 65 years past.
Even the least likely websites are saluting these Heros today, check out this first link, it is from a website called “TransBuddha, a stopover on The Road to Enlightment” : http://www.transbuddha.com/content/june-6th-1944/


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The Second Idea that occurred to me today was, (2) All those other leaders in attendance, sort of stood “in the shadow” of Barack Obama. From the tall, gangly Prince Charles, to the rather diminutive Nicholas Sarkozy, all those fellows seemed rather bland in comparison to the young and energetic American President!.
I’m betting that even those ‘knee-jerk’ conservatives who are prepared at every moment to disagree with everything Obama says, have had to feel some sense of pride in how well he has handled himself, and his easy way with the people of all the nations he has visited, and spoken to, in recent days.
I for one, feel that pride, and as an independent who voted for McCain, I never expected to appreciate this President the way I do.

In closing, I’ll just say a Humble “Thank You” to all those Ordinary Men who performed Extraordinary tasks so long ago. To all those young Europeans who have learned little of their nation’s history, “If you are speaking French, English, or Spanish today, Thank an American GI that you aren’t all speaking German !”

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Thanks for Visiting ! HV

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