We Observe D-Day

National Guard, Jun 2004

"June 6th [story, page 30] marks the 20th Anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy.

"On that day in 1944 a vast armada departed Great Britain and discharged on the beaches of Normandy the largest invasion force in history. Among the U.S. forces were many thousands of National Guardsmen. On the ground or in fighters and bombers overhead there was ample representation of the National Guard of every state.

On june 6th of this year, a representative group of the National Guard Association of the United States, with members drawn from nearly every state, will participate in anniversary ceremonies on the Beaches of Normandy.

Our purpose in returning to Normandy, as representative group of the association has done each five years commencing with the 10th anniversary, is not only to honor all those who participated in the assault on Fortress Europe-and especially members of the National Guard -but to remind the nation that not only in World War Il but in every war this nation has fought since its founding, State forces have made significant contributions.

"Thousands of Guardsmen gave their lives, not only in combat in Europe, but in the jungles of the South Pacific, and, finally, in regaining the independence of the Philippine Islands.

"All these we honor as we stand in silence on the beaches of Normandy which knew for a few weeks in 1944 the fury of Hell, but where the quiet now is broken only by the breaking of a wave on a deserted coastline and by the movement of the flag that flies over the American cemetery where rest so many of our comradesin-arms whom we return to honor on that day."

Editor's Note: An NGAUS delegation will carry on the tradition of commemorating significant anniversaries of the Normandy landings this month, D-Day plus 60 years.