June 6, 1944

Seventy five years ago today.  June 6, 1944, in the misty gray light of early morning, landing craft approached the beaches of Normandy.  Boats filled with frightened young men, many of them barely more than boys.

Boys wishing they were still at home in bed.  Shaking with fear.  Praying.  Maybe crying.  Knowing that many of them would not survive the day. 

And yet, when those landing craft hit the beach,

when those ramps opened,

without hesitation, they stood and charged into the hail of bullets that would claim more than 4000 of them before the sun set.

They saw their friends, their brothers in arms cut down beside them.  Still they ran.  Still they fought.  In spite of their fear, and knowing that the fate of the entire world rested upon their shoulders, they claimed that beach and began the long, slow slog across Europe that would eventually lead to Hitler's demise.

They were terrified.  But still they did what needed to be done.  Without crying.  Without temper tantrums.  Without needing Play-Doh, or a safe space.  They stood up and acquitted themselves like men. 

Now, that is courage.

And that is why they truly were The Greatest Generation. 

Most of those who stormed the beaches at Normandy that day are gone, and those who remain are well into their 90s.  They'll be gone soon, too.  It is up to us to teach our children what they did for us -- for the world -- that day in 1944.  Not the school's.  Not the History Channel's.  Ours.  We must tell the story. 

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.  Joel 1:3

So that we may never forget.