D-Day - 70 Years Ago

[Aikmaniac]

Hard to believe it was 70 years ago today that our guys stormed the beach. Take a moment to reflect today in the midst of your hustle and bustle.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Thank you for posting this Aikmaniac. It's very good advice and I think I will take it.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Such bravery.

 

[DallasEast]

To borrow a quote from Winston Churchill, "This was their finest hour."

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Everything good and bad about the Human race. It was all right there.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

The beginning of "saving Private Ryan" when they showed the D Day stuff is about as intense a movie experience as I've ever seen.

 

[Tabascocat]

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/d-day-land...-70-years-later-1450286#.U4_1o3PDqfQ.facebook

Not going to post pics from this link but it is very cool. It shows pictures of different areas then and now.....couple have graphic photos(one dead body and a couple of bikinis).

Sorry if this is too much to post a link too

 

[Phoenix]

So I take full advantage of working right next to the National Mall in DC. Almost every day I play tourist at lunch, and I LOVE being able to do so

Today I decided to mosey on over to the WW II Memorial because there was quite a large ceremony today. I was too late for the ceremony but I did manage to take some crappy photos with my crappy ancient flip phone's camera. These all were from today.


http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/WWIImemorial_zps8a407837.jpg


Pretty much every embassy from around the world it seems (embassies here in DC) had wreaths there today. Here are a couple of them with a waterfall coming from the Reflecting Pool that goes all the way down there to the Lincoln Memorial.


http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/wreathsandlincoln_zps4501ff5a.jpg


There were a number of WW II vets on hand talking about their experiences, greeting people, being interviewed by a lot of media folks.

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/vet3_zpsd2629301.jpg

(oh lookie, the Embassy of Canada wreath also)

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/vet1_zpsd06058ce.jpg


All of the WW II vets were over across the pool where all those people are

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/lotofpeople_zpsc25e1aba.jpg


June 6, 1944. 70 years ago.

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/June61944_zps8e916354.jpg



Okay I'll stop. I got chills being over there though. Hope you enjoyed my crappy pics

 

[Aikmaniac]

Phoenix, thanks so much for posting. Pics are perfect!

 

[DallasEast]

So I take full advantage of working right next to the National Mall in DC. Almost every day I play tourist at lunch, and I LOVE being able to do so

Today I decided to mosey on over to the WW II Memorial because there was quite a large ceremony today. I was too late for the ceremony but I did manage to take some crappy photos with my crappy ancient flip phone's camera. These all were from today.


http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/WWIImemorial_zps8a407837.jpg


Pretty much every embassy from around the world it seems (embassies here in DC) had wreaths there today. Here are a couple of them with a waterfall coming from the Reflecting Pool that goes all the way down there to the Lincoln Memorial.


http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/wreathsandlincoln_zps4501ff5a.jpg


There were a number of WW II vets on hand talking about their experiences, greeting people, being interviewed by a lot of media folks.

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/vet3_zpsd2629301.jpg

(oh lookie, the Embassy of Canada wreath also)

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/vet1_zpsd06058ce.jpg


All of the WW II vets were over across the pool where all those people are

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/lotofpeople_zpsc25e1aba.jpg


June 6, 1944. 70 years ago.

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/June61944_zps8e916354.jpg



Okay I'll stop. I got chills being over there though. Hope you enjoyed my crappy pics

I envy you (and hate you somewhat too ). A daily tour through obnoxious humidity is a reward down here in northeast Louisiana. And August and September are right around the corner.

I visit the sites whenever I visit my sister, who lives in Columbia, Maryland. It's an inspiration every time.

 

[Wolfpack]

What an amazing event. Mind boggling to think how much planning, coordination and courage that took.

I just got to watch part of the Longest Day last weekend, which is still a great movie. Check that out if you've never seen it and love old war movies.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

The WWII Museum in New Orleans is well worth the visit.

​

 

[Doomsday101]

what is really hard to imagine is many of those men truly believed they would not live, coming off the landing craft, through mine fields and other obstacles as machine guns were firing down from above. Tanks that were to hit the beach to provide protection did not make it so the men had to go over 100 yards in open terrain to get to a safer area. These men truly amaze me.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

To borrow a quote from Winston Churchill, "This was their finest hour."

he was referring to the RAF pilots when he used that quote

took major stones for the Americans British and Canadians to storm the beaches for sure. Something I am sure we would all have if necessary but hopefully none of us ever will have to do the same.

 

[Doomsday101]

he was referring to the RAF pilots when he used that quote

took major stones for the Americans British and Canadians to storm the beaches for sure. Something I am sure we would all have if necessary but hopefully none of us ever will have to do the same.

Not me I would be asking my travel agent "I thought this was a Caribbean cruise there has got to be a mistake."

 

[burmafrd]

The beginning of "saving Private Ryan" when they showed the D Day stuff is about as intense a movie experience as I've ever seen.

I have spoken with numerous Omaha survivors over the years and to a man they all say that came closest to anything they ever saw. But still not as graphic and horrible as it actually was.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

I have spoken with numerous Omaha survivors over the years and to a man they all say that came closest to anything they ever saw. But still not as graphic and horrible as it actually was.

I wondered how close to the real event it was. I cannot imagine going thru that. Those guys were all heroes.

 

[blindzebra]

True heroes and the scary part is that was not even close to the carnage in the Pacific during the many D-days against Japan.

 

[burmafrd]

True heroes and the scary part is that was not even close to the carnage in the Pacific during the many D-days against Japan.

Tarawa was on par with Omaha; really the only landing in the Pacific War that was as bad. The Japanese set up defense in depth with soldiers happy to die for the emperor if they could take a few of us with them. Okinawa was horrendous as that kind of defense was all but perfected. Okinawa was the real reason that dropping the Bombs were not really debated at all; despite what some of those involved said years later. If was feared that invading the home islands would be on a scale only seen in the first world war for blood. And to try and starve the Japanese out would have killed millions as well. Those that claim the bombs should not have been dropped conveniently ignore that they waited until after we dropped the second one and Russia declared war on them before they finally gave in. Even then they were willing to fight on to keep the Emperor on his throne; and young officers almost staged a coup the day before the Emperor's surrender address to keep on fighting. It was a very near thing.

 

[jobberone]

Hard to imagine but 70 years ago today Allied Forces invaded the beaches of Normandy. I realize we just had Memorial Day but I thought it fitting to pay tribute to those warriors then and those who followed. What a great generation! Bless them all.