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Tomorrow is June 6, the 66th anniversary of the D Day landing at Normandy.
I was in Gettysburg, PA this past week observing the battlefield on which the USA has suffered the most casualties of any battle ever. In 1994 I was at Normandy. I was a member of the Marine Security Guard Detachment assigned to American Embassy Paris. I was appointed Color Sergeant by our then detachment commander Master Gunnery Sergeant Ryan. I selected a number of fellow marines, male and female, who traveled around France with me bearing the colors of the United States of America and we participated in many ceremonies. Many were the liberation of various towns throught France. Many were battles, such as at Normandy. We were always met with respect, given excellent accomodations, and treated by the French as royalty.
And the Marines never participated in a single European action in WWII. But we did present the colors at Belleau Wood, and the adjacent American Cemetary. Many Americans don't realize that there are a number of American cemetaries in Europe. Mostly form WWI.
But the point of this post is to recognize that Johnny has gone marching off to war, worn many uniforms and fought in many places. Both at home, and abroad. We have not lacked courage. Whether hearing the bullets hammering on the front of the landing craft, or hearing the cough of the cannister releasing it's deadly cargo of iron pellets--Americans have stood firm and toed the line with much greater reliability than any other nation.
We, more than any other nation, know what is at stake. We may be over fed, over paid, over sexed and over here, but we are also unafraid to defend those "overs".
God Bless America and may our, and our following generations be as selfless as our previous ones have been.
I was in Gettysburg, PA this past week observing the battlefield on which the USA has suffered the most casualties of any battle ever. In 1994 I was at Normandy. I was a member of the Marine Security Guard Detachment assigned to American Embassy Paris. I was appointed Color Sergeant by our then detachment commander Master Gunnery Sergeant Ryan. I selected a number of fellow marines, male and female, who traveled around France with me bearing the colors of the United States of America and we participated in many ceremonies. Many were the liberation of various towns throught France. Many were battles, such as at Normandy. We were always met with respect, given excellent accomodations, and treated by the French as royalty.
And the Marines never participated in a single European action in WWII. But we did present the colors at Belleau Wood, and the adjacent American Cemetary. Many Americans don't realize that there are a number of American cemetaries in Europe. Mostly form WWI.
But the point of this post is to recognize that Johnny has gone marching off to war, worn many uniforms and fought in many places. Both at home, and abroad. We have not lacked courage. Whether hearing the bullets hammering on the front of the landing craft, or hearing the cough of the cannister releasing it's deadly cargo of iron pellets--Americans have stood firm and toed the line with much greater reliability than any other nation.
We, more than any other nation, know what is at stake. We may be over fed, over paid, over sexed and over here, but we are also unafraid to defend those "overs".
God Bless America and may our, and our following generations be as selfless as our previous ones have been.
