~~~We Will Remember~~~

Gentle Reader~~~Seventy years ago today, men, women, and children were waking up across the Shires of Britain with an inkling that something important was happening, but only a few knew with certainty.  Seventy years ago today, to the hour that I am writing this, the serving men of those Shires were landing on the beaches of Normandy, along with members of the Allied Forces, in one of the bloodiest battles of WWII, being mercilessly wiped out in their thousands, yet still fighting forward in what became a pivotal point of that war.  Today, commemorations of that day are happening on both sides of the English Channel.

I am sitting here with tears streaming involuntary down my face out of immense respect and a debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives that day so that you and I can sit in freedom in our own gardens across the Shires.  It is a moving and thought provoking experience watching all the events on television today, reflecting on events, those who perished on that day, seventy years ago, the lives of their families changed forever yet, in their sacrifice, they remain unchanged in the love and memories of those they left behind. 

Unlike so many, I did not have any known close relative present in the Normandy Invasion, for my Grandfathers were both too old to fight for their country in WWII and my father was not old enough. Thereby, a difference may be made to the world in that I might not be here today at all. 

I do not recall studying either of the two World Wars in school; as I remember it we stopped somewhere around the end of Victorian times and the Industrial Revolution, so anything I know is what I have picked up myself along the way, but I wish I knew more, if for no other reason than it is a way to honour those who fought and died to give us the lives we have today.  It is, however, very gratifying, to see so many young people very much aware of the roles of family members in the war.  May the memories of those who gave their lives so bravely live on as they pass the word down to their children's children.

My mother recalls the day.  She was just sixteen and a guest at a wedding happening in the village that day.  She remembers being woken up by my Grandmother {who was a member of the WRVS during WWII} and listening on the radio as the news of the Invasion broke.  Later, they attended the wedding.  What a strange and surreal day that must have been, celebrating the beginning of two lives shared while a battle, the outcome of which would affect everyone, was being fought in France.  She tells me that she is thankful in her heart that there was no television to see the horrors as they happened, it was bad enough listening to it on the radio.

I am glad that there are so many different aspects being addressed today, with remembrance of the work that needed to be done before the Invasion: the weakening of the Luftwaffe; the clearing of mines from the English Channel; the women who worked in the munitions factories; the nurses who cared for those injured and dying; the roles of women and the many ways that contributed to eventual victory.  This list goes on.  I am learning much.

One Veteran said, "those who remain are the veterans, those who died are the heroes" ~~~ in my eyes they are all heroes of the finest calibre.

Another Veteran referred to a quote {attributed to Emiliano Zapata}, "It is better to die standing than to live on your knees"  As the Veteran said, "they died standing so we did not have to live on our knees".

It is awe~inspiring to see the Veterans, and listen to all the interviews, their memories, their recollections, their perspectives.

Perhaps one of the less well known facts revealed today is that all of the headstones that mark the graves of the fallen in the cemeteries in and around the area are all identical, regardless of rank, creed, or social standing, all are equal in their sacrifice {as it rightly should be}  One of the most poignant sights is a double marker, a rare thing in a sea of single, white markers.  It was explained that this particular grave contains the remains of five Australian airmen, whose plane crashed and all on board were killed.  Although all are known, they could not be individually identified, and so were buried together with the unique double headstone.  They flew and died together, and now they lie in eternal rest together.

Today, I offer my heartfelt gratitude for the many who died for our freedom, who died for you and me ~~~

~~~We Will Remember Them~~~