June 6th, 2019 will be the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy where 156,000 Allied troops started a campaign to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.  Today, I want to honor Memorial Day to take a moment to remember the sacrifices of those who have lost their lives in service to our country.

Did your father serve in WWII, Korea or Vietnam? Or Desert Storm?  Or Iraq and Afghanistan?
Maybe you had an uncle who served. Or a Grandfather?
Or an Aunt who volunteered to serve?
Or did you hear about the family member who left for war, but did not comeback?

It is Memorial Day.  We remember the sacrifices of the fallen and lost.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  John F. Kennedy

With the anniversary quickly approaching, I wanted to share this speech from Ronald Reagan that he gave at Pointe du Hoc in 1984 on the 40th anniversary. World leaders gathered to remember. While the first part walks through D-Day, the last half of the speech is what the speech is remembered for.  The speech challenged the world to find a pathway to peace, especially between the US and the then Soviet Union.   You can read the speech here, transcript of speech   or here you can watch Ronald Reagan’s Speech from June 6th, 1984

How do you honor Memorial Day? Many communities have a parade, many head to a national or local cemetery to place flags, and you can also place flowers at your community’s monument or walk of honor. I like to watch the Memorial Day Concert from Washington, DC where our country can collectively remember.

Here are are few songs for Memorial Day:

“Eternal Father, Strong to Serve” performed by Military Wives

Eric Bogle’s “The Green Fields of France”

Sometimes the true meaning of Memorial Day gets swallowed up by the ceremonial start of summer, but focusing on the true meaning is what we should do.

“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.  They have earned our undying gratitude.  America will never forget their sacrifices.”  Harry S. Truman

The following quote is on one of the crosses of an unknown soldier buried in France, “Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms know but to God.”

We remember you and you are not unknown to us. You helped us be free. Thank you.

Marcie Doll