A Day for Honor

Yesterday marked two great events. The first was the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. You learned in school about how brave men fought for America in World War II. However, it is necessary to revisit their bravery and sacrifice. Their average age was 20 and they were given the task of saving humanity. They left their farms to go to a foreign land to fight for freedom. Their sacrifice is enjoyed by millions today. Many were killed so we could be here today. It’s easy to forget, but there are thousands of men who didn’t live to be even 26. In the words of one of the veterans who was speaking at the ceremonies:

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. “

A funny antidote I remember was the fact that when I was in grade school: My brother had told me I was born the day before D-Day, so I repeated that one day in class for some reason. I didn’t really know what it was, of course, the kids didn’t know what “D-day” was, but the teacher had no idea either! A middle aged woman, in the 1980s had no idea what D-Day was.

The struggle continues today. The men who fight in Iraq need to be appreciated more. It is high time that Americans be united on the fight of terror. The veterans of Iraq are just as brave. They fight terrorists in Iraq so they don’t fight in America. When we go to work without fear, we have to thank our military.

Here in Aberdeen when they had the commemorations for the 60th anniversary of D-day, they hung some Union Jack flags, but they also hung rainbow flags. Why, you ask?..."to commemorate gay people were persecuted by the Nazis." Well, so were Jews and Catholics. The point is that it was D-day commemoration and putting up rainbow flags took something away from the brave men that fought. Gays could commemorate on another day.