PLATFORM : A D-Day Thank You

Watching and reading the D-day accounts has had the effect that reading “The Diary of Anne Frank” had on me. Thanks to the media, I care deeply about these former soldiers who until now have been a part of a mysterious mass of older men.

The men who fought in World War II are the strong, silent ones; the ones who are my father’s age; the ones who would never let on what they were feeling.

Seeing those guys revisit Omaha Beach, stare across vast fields of crosses and stars of David and walk along hedgerows has changed me. I’ve seen more feeling and expression from older and mostly white men in the last few weeks than I had in my entire life up to this point. I understand that generation more now, and I’m better for it.

Stephen Ambrose, the D-day historian, related on a PBS special that the most common GI prayer was, “Dear Lord, please don’t let me let my buddies down.” It’s a prayer that should be prayed by more of us now.