Normandy Beach: 65 years After

Senators Robert and Elizabeth Dole flew over yesterday to attend the Normandy D-day Festivities with President Obama today and tomorrow.  Jeff Miller, Mike Marshall and Marion Watkins accompanied them along with some 80 veterans.  Now that has to be exciting.  And hopefully some good press for Honor Flight.  I spend a lot of time with Senator Dole and when he gets talking about Honor Flight, he does go on! We may soon have hubs in France!!

Chicago Honor Flight has organized an amazing series of events at Catigny which is mentioned in the blog below and the New York Times has a feature section on events celebrating WWII this weekend.  It's quite extraordinary how much attention the period has drawn and the many re-enactments that occur.

From Pam Nichols at Honor Flight Alabama, I received this note which reflects the sentiment of every Honor Flight Hub:  

Please take a moment to remember that on Saturday, June 6, we will mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day. On 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.

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to HONOR FLIGHT BIRMINGHAM, the past two years and those of you who will prayerfully consider doing so this year. You had a big part in helping us to send 285 WORLD WAR 11 veterans to Washington D.C. to see the WORLD WAR 11 memorial, during the past twelve months. I am writing this to you because we still have nearly 400 veterans on the waiting list and unfortunately, time is of the essence as they are either becoming physically unable to fly or die before we can get to all the waiting heroes. As you consider a donation and ask other to do so. please remember that the heroes to whom our money goes paid the price a long time ago.
As you go about your daily life this week, please consider the freedom that you enjoy and those who are responsible for preserving that freedom.. Also, please talk to your children and grandchildren about what their grandfather and/or his friends sacrificed so that we could live free. Please help these WORLD WAR 11 heroes visit the memorial built in their honor by sending a generous donation to HONOR FLIGHT BIRMINGHAM at 1401 Doug Baker Blvd., 107-185--- Birmingham,Al. 35242.