Honoring the Legacy of D-Day
Seventy-five years ago, brave men, some barely more than boys, stormed the shores of five French beaches. Under heavy fire from German forces, these men fought hard for every step they took across the Normandy beaches codenamed “Utah,” “Omaha,” “Gold,” “Juno” and “Sword.” Causalities were heavy, but slowly and surely, the tide began to turn in favor of these Allied troops, and they were eventually able to take the beaches. The invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day, would prove to be the turning point in the greatest war the world had ever seen.
You see, what started out as no more than a toehold on those French beaches would turn into a foothold for Allied troops on continental Europe. From there, they would go on to liberate France and the rest of Europe from Nazi control.
Over 156,000 Allied troops from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America and elsewhere, participated in D-Day, the largest amphibious assault in history. Their legacy is more than just helping lead the Allies to victory in World War II. It is the world we live in today. After all, it’s not hard to imagine how different things would be without that decisive Allied victory on those French beaches in June of 1944 and all those that followed.
With that in mind, I think it is important for us to remember those veterans who fought to not only maintain our freedom, but bring about a more free Europe in the process. On June 6, we were asked to remember the brave men involved in the D-Day landings and their sacrifices. The harrowing experience they went through on those beaches is unfathomable, and their sacrifices can never be fully repaid. These men gave up so much for us, and we are truly grateful for them and their service in the face of such extreme adversity. They truly were the Greatest Generation, and we must never forget them.
Please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.