nm - double post
Your post reminds me of a scene in Chocolat where Vianne is trying to tempt a gaffer into buying a gift for his lady friend (their dogs were interested in each other).
Guillaume Blerot: Oh, no, I mustn’t. Madame Audel is in mourning for her husband.
Vianne Rocher: Oh. I’m sorry. When did he pass away?
Guillaume Blerot: The war. German grenade.
Vianne Rocher: Oh, I see. Well, it’s been 15 years since the war, so surely…
Guillaume Blerot: No, not that war. Monsieur Audel was killed on January the 12th, 1917. It was quite a blow to Madame Audel.
It was kind of played for laughs but I found it sweet and sad at the same time.
I guess I need to bump this.
Be aware that we still remember this day, and the thoughts expressed by Coldfire still ring true.
Thank you - you will never be forgotten.
How can we upvote this?
Dammit! Sitting here rereading this thread and crying again.
Upvoted.
Just a little bump.
We do still remember.
Thank you.
23 years on, I think the forum name has finally caught up to the content just a little bit.
We do indeed, @Coldfire
That it may be so, every year – thank you.
Greetings from Europe.
We have not forgotten.
This essay should be reprinted in every American newspaper today!
I hope it is true that we, as a nation and as a people, never forget the unimaginable sacrifices made on our behalf by those who placed freedom and principle above comfort and concession.
Because there are times when it seems that we don’t appreciate the virtues of democracy, and times when we forget that all men are created equal, and that good government acts for the people, by respecting the people, and by respecting the laws and traditions that we cherish.
Let us not forget the hard-won lessons of yesteryear. And let us never take our freedom for granted, nor fail to honour those who genuinely protect it, now or at any time, living or dead. And those who wrongly deny freedom to others may not deserve it for themselves. War is not peace. Ignorance is not strength. Conflict is not collaboration. We can disagree, yet still debate.
Let us remember the good things we have and be generous with the knowledge we have gained. Let our fractious leadership somehow find the courage and confidence to unite us once again. Not by making mountains out of trivial differences, nor by neglecting our humanity. But instead by fostering common purpose and finding a way to rebuild anew.
Tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of the event and the 25th anniversary of this thread.
I wish to God more in America and elsewhere would still remember.
Thank you. My Dad fought for the Liberation of the Pacific, but it all counts.
They dont call them “The Greatest generation” for nothing.
Lovely post.
Yep.
There was a funny/poignant tale about a US visitor to France who was given a hard time about his Visa, etc. He said something like “It’s funny, last time i came here, no one bother about Visas or even checked my Passport.” The Border officials doubted this, and demanded to know when and where it happened. He replied “June 6th, 1944, Normandy”. They quickly waved him through.
Good Bump here.
It’s also the 25th anniversary of this thread! Holy Moses. 
Hey! Good to see you, man. Hope you’re well.
And thank you once more for this thread.
Truly. I’m not that old, I’m not! I’m not!
We have tried not to forget the brave men and women who fought for freedom and democracy when it most mattered. Their spirit in sacrifice in the shadow of tragedy and hubris largely paved the way for generations of relative peace and prosperity.
A great historian once said “history is mostly guessing, and the rest is prejudice”. We don’t have to guess at what happened eighty years ago. Few events have been so heavily studied and have so much documentation. We do not always do as well with the second part. If you do not stand up for democracy, human rights and decency they can become degraded, then lost.
History rhymes, and these patterns have repeated before. Let us learn from the past, improve the future, and never forget the sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation. Remembering not only their hardship but the reasons they enlisted, and what they built after they had vanquished those who would destroy liberty and freedom.