80 Years Ago

"We shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations, into a world unity that will spell a sure peace, a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom."

On June 6, 1944 (D-Day), Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. American and British Allied forces left Great Britain and crossed the English Channel for an amphibious landing onto the beaches of France. Code-named "Operation Overlord," the D-Day invasion was the first time Allied Forces reached the western edge of the European continent. This initial invasion allowed the Allies to liberate France and defeat Germany within the next year. Approximately 9,000 Americans and 20,000 Germans lost their lives during the invasion. That evening, President Franklin Roosevelt spoke to the nation, offering his D-Day Prayer to the members of the armed forces and their families. I urge you to listen to the original -- 6 minutes.

On June 6, 1984, President Ronald Reagan paid tribute to the D-Day veterans seated before him, "These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war."

On the 40th anniversary of D-Day, Reagan went on to draw the lessons liberal democracies need to take from WWII and that we must commit to again today:

"We in America have learned bitter lessons from two World Wars: It is better to be here ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We've learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent . . .

But for now, particularly today, it is good and fitting to renew our commitment to each other, to our freedom, and to the alliance that protects it . . .

Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for."

Again, his whole speech is worthy of your time -- 13 minutes.

Commemorating the 80th anniversary, with only about 200 American and British D-Day veterans participating, President Joe Biden spoke today at the American cemetery in Normandy:

"The price of unchecked tyranny is the blood of the young and the brave," Biden said as he honored veterans from the assault on Normandy Beach. "Their generation, in their hour of trial—the allied forces on D-Day did their duty. Now the question for us is, in our hour of trial, will we do ours?"

From President Biden's proclamation:

"On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, may we thank these service members for their bravery and sacrifice. May we honor their heroism, which liberated a continent and saved the world. And may we recommit to the future they fought and which many died for."