70 years ago today and our fate was on a razor's edge....

American troops receive Holy Communion (kneeling and by mouth)
at Vierville-sur-Mer after D Day 1944

This is a re-post from a couple of years ago...but, I hope we never forget the sacrifices made by the young men and women who fought for our freedom:-

http://linenonthehedgerow.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/if-d-day-had-failed-where-would-we-be.html

If D-Day had failed where would we be today?

06.30 hours 6th June 1944 and allied troops began landing on the flat, sandy Normandy beaches. Many were to die that day, mown down by machine gun fire from the German clifftop positions and pillboxes.
Many did not even set foot on dry land before they were hit or drowned in the cold waters.

American troops landing on D-Day

I once heard a young Frenchman state derogatively that "The British and Americans invaded France" - I pointed out to him the difference between invasion and liberation but, it has to be said that the significance of this recent and dramatic event in the Second World War is rapidly being eroded. It was, for the allies, the beginning of the turning point in the war, if we had failed, it is highly likely that many of us would not be here today. Great Britain would be an island colony of slave workers producing food and goods for the Fatherland. There would be no immigrant populations, no NHS and, probably no religion other than the totalitarian Nazi ideology.

North America would, I guess, have withdrawn within its borders and the combined US and Canadian forces, kept the Nazis at bay. Who knows?

What is certain is the fact that we owe a very great debt to those young US, Canadian and other allied troops who gave their lives for a cause that many did not fully comprehend - 'For their tomorrow we gave our today' are words writ large over the many cemeteries of Normandy.

         PRAYER BEFORE A BATTLE

More than ever I feel the need of having Thee close to me. At any moment I may find myself in battle. However rigorous the task that awaits me, may I fulfill my duty with courage. If death should overtake me on this field, grant that I die in the state of grace, forgive me all my sins, those I have forgotten and those I recall now: grant me the grace of perfect contrition.

When we remember, let's also remember US Forces

The citizens of the USA seem to come in for a lot of criticism these days, often from young people and often from ethnic minorities who have settled in Great Britain. Some of the criticism may hit a mark but all of it fails to recall the almighty debt we owe to America for their efforts in the Second World War. We can carp about their late entry and other issues but we cannot remove the fact that we are free today because of the USA.
If you doubt these words, take a trip to Normandy and visit the American war cemeteries. you will find rank upon rank of headstones of young men barely old enough to go into a pub and order a beer.
I also include Canadians and other forces here but I am highlighting the US troops because today, many British Jews and Muslims, students, homosexuals, gypsies, immigrants and others, would not be here but for our American friends and allies.

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat

The soldier's last tattoo;

No more on life's parade shall meet

That brave and fallen few.

On fame's eternal camping ground

Their silent tents are spread,

And glory guards, with solemn round,

The bivouac of the dead.

Theodore O'Hara (1820-67)

American Poet and Soldier