On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than victory.”
More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion and by day’s end, the allies gained a foot-hold in Europe. The cost was high. More than 9,000 allied soldiers were killed or wounded but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 soldiers to begin the slow, hard trek across Europe to defeat Adolph Hitler’s troops.
I am amazed when I think of the courage of these troops, marching bravely into a situation, knowing they may very well lose their lives. Somehow these young men and women had the ability to see the big picture. They were able to look ahead and conceptualize the truth that their deaths could change history. They did it for their moms and dad and brothers and sisters and wives and babies. They did it because they knew that nothing, nothing means more than freedom.
I am ashamed to admit that I have never known what the ‘D’ in D-Day really means. I did a little research.
The ‘D’ simply stands for “day”. In the military, D-Day is the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. The designation was traditionally used for the date of any important military operation or invasion. For example, the day before June 6, 1944, was known as D-1 and the days after were D+1, D+2, and so on.
Tomorrow morning when you awaken with the freedom to go to work, call in sick, participate in a yoga class, attend a bible study, take your grandkids to the park, worship your God in any way you choose, or order a venti vanilla, extra hot, extra foamy, half caff caramel macchiato at Starbucks, remember that it is D+27,011 and someone fought and died bravely in order for you to do that.
Accept nothing less than gratitude.