When The Shooting Stops: 68th Anniversary of D-Day

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

68th Anniversary of D-Day

The Allied invasion at Normandy, on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal event in World War II and paved the way for the end of the war in Europe.

Today is the 68th Anniversary of D-Day, which resulted in the deaths of 9,000 Americans -- an enormous number for only one day in all of World War II.

"You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months," Said General Dwight D. Eisenhower to the troops just before the invasion. "The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world."

"I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory."

You can find some great information commemorating this important day in world history here, including photos, maps, and audio of General Eisenhower's address to the troops.

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Why This Blog?

I spent a lot of the last decade pissed off -- really pissed off. And my writing at the time reflected it: Angry, pointed and focused like a laser on everything I did not like about the previous administration and, in particular, the war in Iraq, which as a military Veteran, left me fuming more days than not.

My opposition to the Iraq war was specifically because of having been in the military and my unshakable belief that our men and women in uniform were serving honorably and with tremendous courage in a war that was not worthy of their sacrifice. I stand by every word I wrote during that time, but I would be lying if I said there were not some things that I wish I could take back. Thus is the lot you draw for yourself when you are angry and where most of what you care about is what you are against, rather than what you are for.

This web site and my upcoming book, When The Shooting Stops, will be all about what I am for: Our newest military families who have sacrificed so much over the last 10 years, the people who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and our duty as a nation to see that what they gave -- and what they risked -- is honored and never forgotten.

I can't promise I will never take a political tone -- can any of us ever swear to that these days? What I do promise is that I will damned well try to keep this blog about the people who are wearing the uniform, those who have served and their families. I may call some people out, but I will try to make the criteria for that criticism what they do for or against the interests of our military people and Veterans and not what political party they belong to.

After feeling at odds for so many years with my more conservative friends, it feels good to come back to something that, at its core, is something most people can agree with -- our military families and Veterans gave to us and we must remember to give back to them.

Thanks for reading.