D-Day, the Great and Noble Undertaking

This morning I sat with my step-father, remembering what today is and why it would be important to him. It is the day before D-Day, the never-to-be-forgotten day when so many men risked it all that June of 1944. My step-father was not there, but was serving on a Naval ship in the Pacific that day. 

My step-father, Art

"Mother," I said quietly. Tomorrow is D-Day."

She looked up from her chair, where she had been sitting and watching him. "Yes. I remember that day very well." It was all we had time to say, at that moment. My step-father is in Hospice, and edging quietly away from us as our mother watches, and cares. It is what she has always done, for all of us.

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Already, the commemorations of D-Day have begun in northern France. The Queen is there now, standing as the only living head of state who served in WWII. And with her will proudly stand the men who took those beaches 70 years ago. There they will relive the hours and the days they were part of that 'great and noble undertaking' which changed the war.

I knew they would come, if they could! And they are magnificent. One 93 year old Scot spoke as clearly as if he were 40 years younger. He said that as a Marine, they had a job to do and they did it. He made it sound almost like any ordinary day, for a Marine.

"Were you afraid?" breathed the interviewer as she held the microphone near the old man's mouth.

"No, can't say as I was. We had done a lot of other beach landings so it was a matter of just doing what we were trained for."

"What did you DO in the landing craft as you floated across?" she continued.

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"We played cards, mostly. Cards, and we sang songs. Lots of songs. It was a long crossing."

I loved this man.

But my own step-father wouldn't be participating in any commemorations, today. He has something more important on his mind right now. But we celebrate it for him, thinking of him as that young and strapping sailor who volunteered to go at age 17. He, like so many others, was eager and willing, and did the job that needed to be done.

Tomorrow I may not be able to find a television and watch all the commemorations. I wish I could. But when the dust settles, I will find them - the ceremonies, the interviews, the songs, the salutes. I will grab out my tissues and watch with respect, and affection. 

Let us all say together a great, loud "Well done!" and thank God for those who put themselves at such risk. 

I hope there are more where those came from.

See you along the way!

the SconeLady

          

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwilmore/62281103/">gwilmore (I HATE THE NEW LAYOUT!)</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/3661056636/">DVIDSHUB</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>