D-Day had its 79th Anniversary on the Normandy beaches of France this week. Does not matter how old or what walk of life you come from in America. Appreciation for veterans that landed on the Normandy beachheads deserves sincere reflection and praise for their bravery and sacrifice. Secretary of Defense Austin and Joints Chief of Staff Gen. Milley spoke at the somber gathering at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach. There are 9,300 plus veterans buried there and the names of another 1,500 veterans who are missing but not forgotten at the location. NATO member nations England, Belgium, France, Canada, Poland, … to include Germany were present for the anniversary gathering.
Most recent movies like Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers bring to life the battles on the beaches as thousands pressed to gain control of the beach and drive the Nazis away and out of France. During the battle, hundreds of airborne troops were dropped behind enemy lines to start softening the rear. While battleships pounded the beachheads to weaken the hardened concrete bunkers the Germans had built as defenses. Gen. Milley had formerly been a commander for the 101st and 82nd Airborne units at one time during his long career in the military.
This brings to mind the short recollection of the American public. When Trump, on D-Day in 2018 acknowledged by numerous sources commented on the veterans buried there as “losers.” Trump referred to President George H.W. Bush as a loser as well. President Bush had been shot down in the Pacific along with other pilots who were later captured and tortured. How he ridiculed John McCain, a Navy pilot captured and tortured and spent approximately 6 years in a North Vietnamese prison. The second longest POW was a Hispanic Navy aviator Everett Alvarez Jr. He was a North Vietnamese POW from 1965 – 1972. I bring that up because Trump disparages Hispanics in this country and his portrayal of Hispanics as nothing but “thugs and criminals” and maybe some are good!
- His inability to recognize sacrifice. bravery and country are certainly lacking in his person. Why veterans follow him as they do is a phenomenon to me.