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Seventy-nine years ago this coming Tuesday. An incredible invasion against the once invincible Nazi war machine. Those who landed on the Normandy shore that day had to be among the bravest of the brave. The future of the world was on their shoulders.

I use one post every year to remind us of the sacrifices that took place that day. Among the early landers that day was my late father-in-law. Barely a kid of 20 years. He made it to the beach under heavy fire and was able to survive and come back.

I am not sure where he went after the landing. He would never talk about the war. His medals were in the bottom drawer of his dresser, only to come out after he died. Like many who fought, the experience was so painful that he could just never talk about it. I told him thanks once and that was as far as it went.

So every year I have some quiet time to consider his sacrifice and the sacrifices of all the others. Many never got but a step off the boat.

Dwight Eisenhower ran the operation. He knew all the marbles were bet on this one. He had prepared a statement should the unthinkable happen and the invasion failed. As you know it didn’t. Eisenhower was the greatest of war heroes and became a pretty good president. He was not led by ideology but by practicality. I would so love a Republican like Ike again.

As for my Father-in-law, like so many he came back settled in a small town and married his high school sweetheart. 

He wasn’t very political, but every now and then he would grumble about how the little guy was always getting screwed. I have no doubt what he would think about how things have turned in this country.

Rest In Peace, Bob. And Thanks.