Before I begin…I wish to express my deep thanks and appreciation to all veterans… not only on this day… but each and every day. May we always feel honor and gratitude for those who are willing to sacrifice for the good of us all. And I would like to dedicate this day to a dear friend… Sean Michael Godley… Lt Col, United States Marine Corps. May he rest in peace. “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.” ~ President Calvin Coolidge Today we uphold and revere our nation’s veterans, those who have given of themselves, so that we may enjoy the blessings of peace and liberty – ideals of paramount importance to the very soul of America.
Commander Aune, Auxiliary President Pat Hanson, Veterans, families and fellow patriots. It is a distinct privilege to be here… to honor a very special group of Americans. On the morning of June 6, 1944, a vast fleet of Allied warships gathered in the English Channel for the largest invasion ever seen. Their mission: to invade Normandy and breach the Atlantic Wall as part of Operation Overlord, the most extensive amphibious assault in history. Approximately 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces were tasked with landing on five beaches along a 50-mile fortified coastline in northern France. The Allies, by day’s end, had suffered 10,000 casualties while battling German defenders. However, they successfully established a foothold in France, marking one of the most pivotal battles in World War II.
See page 6 for the conclusion of Jeff’s presentation on Operation Overlord.
