D-Day: Why We Need to Remember

Yesterday marked the 66th anniversary of D-Day. The occasion seemed to go largely unnoticed by the major media outlets, who instead focused on the BP oil spill, European debt concerns, the NBA finals, or anything other than the anniversary of the beginning of the liberation of Europe. It is unfortunate that the sacrifice by so many U.S. and allied soldiers, a sacrifice that truly defines the geopolitical world we live in, including a free Europe, passed with little fanfare.

Bucking the trend, there is a commercial running on one of the cable channels that is running a series of shows on D-Day. In the commercial, a grandfather, a robust sort who appears to be about 70, watches the show and remembers, along with his pretty blond daughter, who appears to be about 40, and his 10 year old grandson. It's a very heart-warming scene, and it is good that at least one media outlet is remembering the occasion.

There's only one problem: The math doesn't work. The 70 year old veteran would have been four years old when D-Day occurred. My father was born in 1928 and, God willing, will turn 82 this year. He was sixteen and too young for military service, although just barely, when D-Day occurred. The reality is that three generations and nearly a lifetime have passed since D-Day. All of the veterans who participated and still living are in their mid-80s or older. Most have already died.

The Greatest Generation is passing into the sands of time. The fact that the anniversary of D-Day passed without much notice may indicate that our national recollection of this defining event is also fading. Let's hope this is not the case.

One of my friends posted a link in another forum to this speech by Ronald Reagan marking the 40th anniversary of D-Day. Whether you loved Reagan or not, the words are worth reading.