(Written in June, 2006.)
Every day the news is full of things that have gone wrong in Iraq. Yet, the sixty-second anniversary of D-Day might give us some perspective on what is happening now in that war.
The invasion of Normandy began on a gray day. The gray clouds covered the sky down to the horizon, blending into the gray water almost without seam. Thousands of gray ships lay before the beach. The pebbles there also seemed gray in the overcast. Indeed, the men riding the rough waves toward the shore lost all color as they became wet with spray. The only changes from the oppressive gray were flashes of white caused by the breaking waves, and the German shells hitting the water; fired by men uniformed in gray.
Then, the first bit of color appeared; a burst of bright crimson signaling the end of a young life and the shattering of a family's heart and hopes. The monochrome world became Technicolor.
As the soldiers fought to gain the shore so that they could begin to fight the enemy, they found confusion and chaos everywhere. Nothing seemed to be going as planned. Mistakes were being made. Some of the soldiers, a very few, weren't behaving as they should. And, worst of all, everyone seemed trapped on the beach; there was no way out, victory did not seem possible.
Cynics, both then and today, would have seen only the problems. They would have rushed to question the need for the battle, its plans, and its execution. They would have focused only on the confusion and the mistakes--and would have declared it a failure before it even began.
But, the soldiers lying on that beach weren't cynical. They had a job to do, and they did it.
Where they found confusion, they restored order and moved on. They fixed the mistakes and amended the plans, and moved on. When one of their comrades was wounded, they gave what aid they could, and moved on. When one fell, they set aside a small part of their heart in which to carry a memory that would never fade, and moved on. When they were trapped on the beach, they found a way out, and moved on—to victory.
In doing so, they liberated Europe and destroyed one of the worst evils of the last century.
They would be the first to tell us that the honor we give them does not diminish in any way the honor that is due those who have come after them. Honor is not finite. There is always enough to recognize those who rise to the occasion to do what is right whatever the cost.
The soldiers of Normandy were part of a long line of men who have risked all to combat evil. They were part of the endless fight to allow people to live free of tyranny; and they fought the enemy of their time. The unit insignia they wore was the same as that worn by their fathers who had risen to the challenge a generation before. It is the same insignia that is now worn by their grandchildren who are combating evil's most recent incarnation in Iraq and Afghanistan. The uniforms and weapons may have changed. The form of the enemy may be different. But, the courage and determination of the brave men and women who are willing to put themselves between us and danger has not changed.
If those who struggled so valiantly in the past deserve our honor and respect even though they were not always perfect, do not those who follow them in the struggle today deserve the same? Denying honor to one group diminishes it for all, for all fight for freedom.
One way of denying them honor would be to focus only upon the mistakes that were made, and the plans that had to be changed once the battle began. Another way would be to ignore their remarkable acts of personal bravery. Sixty years ago, a rush to embrace all of the negative aspects of Normandy and ignore the positive, would have robbed these soldiers of their victory and stolen their honor. More importantly, it would have denied freedom to a continent. Even today, a cynic can find much to criticize in the conduct of the Normandy invasion.
But, thank God, the soldiers of Normandy weren't cynical. They had a job to do. And they did it. And there is no doubt about what they accomplished.
So, as we honor their great achievement let us also learn from the example that they set for us. For, we also fight for freedom today. Let us accept that battle against a capable foe will lead to confusion at times, and will require that plans be changed as we go forth. Let us also recognize that, in the fury and confusion of battle, individuals may do wrong—and will be punished for their misdeeds. Like the men on that Technicolor beach so long ago, let us fix the problems as they arise, and move on until, like them, we also enjoy victory over evil.
Every day the news is full of things that have gone wrong in Iraq. Yet, the sixty-second anniversary of D-Day might give us some perspective on what is happening now in that war.
The invasion of Normandy began on a gray day. The gray clouds covered the sky down to the horizon, blending into the gray water almost without seam. Thousands of gray ships lay before the beach. The pebbles there also seemed gray in the overcast. Indeed, the men riding the rough waves toward the shore lost all color as they became wet with spray. The only changes from the oppressive gray were flashes of white caused by the breaking waves, and the German shells hitting the water; fired by men uniformed in gray.
Then, the first bit of color appeared; a burst of bright crimson signaling the end of a young life and the shattering of a family's heart and hopes. The monochrome world became Technicolor.
As the soldiers fought to gain the shore so that they could begin to fight the enemy, they found confusion and chaos everywhere. Nothing seemed to be going as planned. Mistakes were being made. Some of the soldiers, a very few, weren't behaving as they should. And, worst of all, everyone seemed trapped on the beach; there was no way out, victory did not seem possible.
Cynics, both then and today, would have seen only the problems. They would have rushed to question the need for the battle, its plans, and its execution. They would have focused only on the confusion and the mistakes--and would have declared it a failure before it even began.
But, the soldiers lying on that beach weren't cynical. They had a job to do, and they did it.
Where they found confusion, they restored order and moved on. They fixed the mistakes and amended the plans, and moved on. When one of their comrades was wounded, they gave what aid they could, and moved on. When one fell, they set aside a small part of their heart in which to carry a memory that would never fade, and moved on. When they were trapped on the beach, they found a way out, and moved on—to victory.
In doing so, they liberated Europe and destroyed one of the worst evils of the last century.
They would be the first to tell us that the honor we give them does not diminish in any way the honor that is due those who have come after them. Honor is not finite. There is always enough to recognize those who rise to the occasion to do what is right whatever the cost.
The soldiers of Normandy were part of a long line of men who have risked all to combat evil. They were part of the endless fight to allow people to live free of tyranny; and they fought the enemy of their time. The unit insignia they wore was the same as that worn by their fathers who had risen to the challenge a generation before. It is the same insignia that is now worn by their grandchildren who are combating evil's most recent incarnation in Iraq and Afghanistan. The uniforms and weapons may have changed. The form of the enemy may be different. But, the courage and determination of the brave men and women who are willing to put themselves between us and danger has not changed.
If those who struggled so valiantly in the past deserve our honor and respect even though they were not always perfect, do not those who follow them in the struggle today deserve the same? Denying honor to one group diminishes it for all, for all fight for freedom.
One way of denying them honor would be to focus only upon the mistakes that were made, and the plans that had to be changed once the battle began. Another way would be to ignore their remarkable acts of personal bravery. Sixty years ago, a rush to embrace all of the negative aspects of Normandy and ignore the positive, would have robbed these soldiers of their victory and stolen their honor. More importantly, it would have denied freedom to a continent. Even today, a cynic can find much to criticize in the conduct of the Normandy invasion.
But, thank God, the soldiers of Normandy weren't cynical. They had a job to do. And they did it. And there is no doubt about what they accomplished.
So, as we honor their great achievement let us also learn from the example that they set for us. For, we also fight for freedom today. Let us accept that battle against a capable foe will lead to confusion at times, and will require that plans be changed as we go forth. Let us also recognize that, in the fury and confusion of battle, individuals may do wrong—and will be punished for their misdeeds. Like the men on that Technicolor beach so long ago, let us fix the problems as they arise, and move on until, like them, we also enjoy victory over evil.
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