“Today, 73 years ago...”

Tuesday, June 06, 2017

                Today.  73 years ago.  Thousands of young boys less than half my age hit the coast of Normandy with the goal of liberating a continent and rescuing freedom.  A horrific number of them, by this time of day (2:00 pm), lay face-down in the surf or the sand, their lifeblood washing out into the English Channel, having given their all.

                I think of those young soldiers, men of my grandfathers’ generation, who never got to enjoy the blessings and pleasures I have since my 20’s – a wife, wonderful children, a career, the pursuit of happiness – because in their 20’s they gave their last full measure of devotion.  Greater love has no man than this: to give his life for his friends.  If you could ask most of those young guys, they weren’t thinking of their grandkids or future generations – they were thinking of their buddy next to them.  And they gave all for them.

                In the bigger scheme, they sacrificed for people like you and me so maybe we would not have to.  I can’t help but be reminded of the much greater sacrifice of Jesus for all mankind – doing something for us we could not do for ourselves.  Shedding His blood, for our good.

                I have just always been deeply moved by what happened on the 6^th of June, 1944.  The stories of those brave young boys who hurled themselves against the darkest forces of our world at the time, and changed the fate of untold millions for many many decades to come.  I owe them a debt of gratitude I cannot fully pay.  So I try to never forget. 

Thank you, boys, for what you did for me.   

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