“At the core, the American citizen soldiers knew the difference between right and wrong, and they didn’t want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed. So they fought, and won, and we, all of us, living and yet to be born, must be forever profoundly grateful.”
–Author Stephen Ambrose
Almost Eighty years now separates us from D-Day. Precious few men and women who made operation Overlord happen are with us – less than 1% of World War II veterans overall are still living according to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Just 1% of 16.1 million Americans.
The number of Americans who took up arms after the attack on Pearl Harbor has no precedent since. In fact, the number of Americans engaged in conflict has dwindled. Consider:
6.8 Million Americans served in the Korean Conflict
2.7 Million Americans served in the Vietnam War
1.3 Million to 3 Million Americans have served since 2001 in the War on Terror
We no longer have the ability to truly comprehend the amount of sacrifice a nation as a whole is at times required to undertake.
Why did the country send so many of its young men and women into action? Perhaps Stephen Ambrose said it best. We were a people who knew right from wrong, and those soldiers “didn’t want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed.”
Wrong’s back was broken on June 6, 1944, when more than 150,000 American, British, Canadian, and French ground troops landed at Normandy and begin the push that would ultimately bring them freedom’s forces to Berlin. More than 4,500 of those individuals paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This June 6 marks the 80th anniversary of that bloody day, and the FXBG Advance wants to help us remember what was arguably the most consequential day of the Second World War.
Help Us Honor Them
We are asking you to help us locate D-Day veterans still living in our readership area.
If you are aware of such individuals, please let us know by filling out this short questionnaire.
This information will assist us in both planning our special June 6 edition, and consider ways that we can commemorate this very important day.
