| Weather was very critical at so many levels on the ultimate success of D-Day . . . even the frustrating delays due to weather conditions in hindsight seem to have some divine guidance. The meticulously planned Operation Overlord was originally delayed on May 17th to an unalterable June 5 by Supreme Allied Commander General Eisenhower, who then was forced to delay the order on June 5 for another 24 hours . . . when improving weather conditions (a grace of God?) allowed for this eventful day to proceed without the enemy learning of what was to come... The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 service men. Just imagine . . . young men, most under 20 years old, carrying eighty pounds of equipment as they entered the stormy cold Atlantic with rolling waves . . . and still having over 200 yards of beach before protection could be reached on Normandy's rugged coast. Anyone who has seen the epic movie, Saving Private Ryan (1998), has at least a visual and auditory sense of what those of the "greatest generation" went through as the bullets and exploding artillery shells smothered the air around them like a swarm of hungry mosquitoes -- but with lethal bites! Over 4,000 allies paid the ultimate price with nearly 6,000 more wounded in achieving this great victory. And many of these fallen's graves are marked by white crosses on France's countryside . . . and stand as constant solemn reminders of this historic day. So, every June 6th going forward, please remember them and all others who valiantly fought on D-Day . . . as we are now enjoying the benefits of what the "greatest generation" provided for us. | |
