I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the men and women that stand between us and danger, evil and the powers that destroy.
Last October we stood on Omaha Beach in France, the site of one of the D-Day landings.
In its current tranquility, it’s hard to image the carnage that took place on June 6, 1944 when the liberation of Europe began. In the conflict 100 German soldiers killed 2499 Americans and 1915 of their allies.
The Battle of Normandy lasted from June through August 1944 with over 425,000 Allied and German troops killed, wounded or missing. Even the son of President Teddy Roosevelt was not exempt, General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. died of a heart attack after fighting and is buried in Normandy next to his brother Quentin who died in WWI.
83,045 of the casualties were from 21st Army Group: British, Canadian and Polish ground forces. 125,847 from the US ground forces. About 200,000 German troops were killed or wounded. The Allies also captured 200,000 prisoners of war (not included in the 425,000). During the fighting around the Falaise in August 1944, the Germans suffered losses of around 90,000, including prisoners. This was the beginning of the liberation of Europe.
One battle of one war of far too many. War is hell; some march bravely into the valley of the shadow of death never to return.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 Holy Bible, KJV
Thanks Pam. It does my heart good to remember and be grateful.
We have much to be grateful for, thanks Dawn.