A nation that doesn’t honor the sacrifices made on her behalf will not last long on this Earth. So spare a moment today to remember the incredible courage of those who fought back the evil of the Axis threat 71 years ago on the beaches of Normandy.
June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded — but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.
"Full victory–nothing else" – General Eisenhower to the 101st before their assault on #DDay, June 6, 1944 pic.twitter.com/NeGAR5HGZt
— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) June 6, 2015
"…and men kept pouring in…" #DDay71 pic.twitter.com/xZwSXY5kpI
— Casey Kelley (@policygal) June 6, 2015
This Day in #WWII #History: On June 6, 1944, the Allied invasion of Normandy begins. #DDAY pic.twitter.com/7sADhNNg2L
— World War II History (@WW2Facts) June 6, 2015
American soldiers securing a beachhead during initial landing operations at Normandy, on June 6, 1944. (@AP) #DDAY pic.twitter.com/5kDcDNFQNr
— World War II History (@WW2Facts) June 6, 2015
A German Panzer IV turret mounted on bunker at Omaha Beach, June, 1944. #WWII pic.twitter.com/Vg9dzV8oyC
— World War II History (@WW2Facts) June 6, 2015
Allied soldiers, tanks and ships take part in the #DDay landings at Arromanches beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944. pic.twitter.com/8tQQupHn1T
— World War II History (@WW2Facts) June 6, 2015
Smoke streams from an LCVP on #DDAY after German machine gun fire set off an American soldier's hand grenade. #WWII pic.twitter.com/GmeIvi0cGQ
— World War II History (@WW2Facts) June 6, 2015
Soldiers take cover behind enemy obstacles to fire on German forces as others follow tanks on June 6, 1944. (via @AP) pic.twitter.com/NgkPMl04Ue
— World War II History (@WW2Facts) June 6, 2015
American assault troops in a landing craft as it nears the Northern Coast of France on June 6, 1944. #DDAY #History pic.twitter.com/mVLpXLngoN
— World War II History (@WW2Facts) June 6, 2015
Here’s a tribute from the NRA:
And if you can stand it, the harrowing opening scene from “Saving Private Ryan”: