WHENEVER I RUN ACROSS A PHOTO OF OMAHA BEACH, I AM COMPELLED TO SHOW IT…. I REPEAT THE REVELATION OF THIS IMAGE BEAUSE I NEVER FEEL THAT I HAVE DONE ENOUGH TO IMPART THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SACRIFICE LAID DOWN ON THAT BEACH BY THE YOUNG AMERICANS WHO STORMED IT….ALMOST GUARENTEED A ONE-WAY TRIP, THE LANDING WAS AGAINST A WALL OF MACHINE-GUN FIRE THAT WAS TATAMOUNT TO STANDING IN FRONT OF A FIRING SQUAD…AGAIN IT MUST BE SAID THAT THE YOUNG MEN WHO DIED DID IT FOR NO PERSONAL GAIN OR GRANDISMENT OF AN EMPIRE….. HISTORY HAS MANY STORIES OF CONQURING ARMIES CLAIMING TERRITORY AND RICHES FROM THE DEFEATED…. SUCH SELF-SERVING MOTIVES WERE CAST ASIDE BY THE BOYS ON OMAHA BEACH….. THEY WERE THERE TO SAVE THE WORLD….. THEY WERE THERE AS THE CHAMPIONS OF GOOD AGAINST EVIL….  PROTECTED BY OCEANS AND DISTANCE….WE COULD HAVE SUED FOR PEACE AND BEEN SPARED THE BLOOD AND PAIN….BUT THE FUTURE OF HUMANIATY WAS IN THE BLOOD-MUDDIED SANDS OF OMAHA BEACH…. IT WAS THERE, ON THAT SPIT OF SAND THAT AMERICA BECAME THE SUPREME ARBITER OF GOOD AND BAD IN THE WORLD…. IT WAS ON   THE FIRST BULLET THAT STOPPED THE FIRST HEART COMING OFF THE FIRST LCP AS THE DOOR FELL DOWN, THAT WE TOOK UP THE MANTLE OF SPIRITUAL FATHER OF THE WORLD….THERE ARE SOME WHO SCOFF WHEN THEY HEAR THAT AMERICA IS EXCEPTIONAL…TELL THAT TO THE BOYS OF OMAHA BEACH….

           THE BEACH AND AN UNWORTHY MAN STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF CITIZEN SOLDIERS,…. OF ORDINARY GUYS FIGHTING EXTRORDINARY ODDS.