D-Day

There are a few days throughout the year where I take moment to think and remember: February 19th, July 4th, November 11th, August 6th, September 11th and June 6th.

I wanted to take a moment today to reflect on the 76th anniversary of the landings in Normandy, France and the lessons we can take from it for today. Today we have a country and world in isolation due to a pandemic. We have protests over racial inequality in our streets. We have lawless actors taking advantage to cause mayhem and loot.

The press is asking if the American fabric is tearing.

To me, the lesson for today of D-Day we can take is this: The D-Day landings did not mean victory our foes. It was the first step. It set our Armies on the path toward Berlin and victory. 156,000 soldiers landed by air and sea that morning, the vanguard of the more than 8 million that eventually served in the drive on Berlin and the defeat of the Nazis. The men and women of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom were joined by soldiers and airmen from Belgium, France, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.

Nothing was assured. We were not pre-destined to succeed. But we faced the fire together and we did succeed on that day. Through the hard work and blood shed together with our Allies and each other. By remaining focused on the mission and being dedicated to seeing it succeed. Thus, like them, we must all be willing to do that hard work by working together to make the great experiment that is our Nation succeed.

I hope in the coming weeks and months we can all find some way to contribute to both the healing of the divides in our Nation and the restoration of its economy — the greatest generator of wealth and opportunity the world has ever seen. I look forward to speaking with all of you about this once we are back home at our Post.

As far as the tearing of our National fabric, I am reminded of a little song I have listened to since I was a child. I hope we can all take its message to heart.

Stay safe as we enter the summer and begin to emerge from our homes.

God Bless America,

Thor