05/25/2026
May We Never Forget Their Sacrifice
Today I'm reflecting on my recent visit to Normandy and thinking of those who gave everything for our country and our allies.
Stretching along the northern coast of France, the Normandy beaches from one of Europe's most meaningful landscapes. It's known for its wide sandy shores, dramatic cliffs and quaint seaside towns, but it's also the scene of one of the most pivotal moments in the 20th century. On June 6, 1944, these beaches became the stage for Operation Overlord (the code name for the Allied invasion).
The five landing beaches - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword - each played a very distinct role in this operation. You can still see remnants of bunkers, artillery positions and Mulberry Harbour structures -- and you can walk and reflect in the footsteps of history.
Seeing the D-Day Landing Beaches in person made me realize what a large scale and incredibly complex invasion it really was. It is one thing to read about it; and a completely different thing to see it with my own eyes. It literally took my breath away. Sadlly, its success required the lives of so many young soldiers who were willing to go.
Our tour guide shared the words that Eisenhower said in remarks on the 20th anniversary of D-Day when he was there with CBS News Anchor Walter Cronkite
"I devoutly hope that we will never again have to see such scenes as these. We must find some way to work, and to gain an eternal peace for this world."
This CBS documentary (aired on June 5-6, 1964) is called "D-Day plus 20 years: Eisenhower Returns to Normandy." Eisenhower recalled the agonizing weather decision - he described receiving the forecast for June 5th as "the worst report you ever saw" with gales and winds up to 45 mph making a landing impossible, but a brief window on June 6th led to him saying, "okay, we'll go."
After a moment of a silence, we listened to a trumpet player playing taps and then all of us in the tour group laid out our single white roses in remembrance and deep gratitude.
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