Reporter’s Notebook: Remembering courage on the 81st anniversary of D-Day
I ve covered a large number of anniversaries of D-Day and they never lose their power to move We were at the st anniversary at the stunning American cemetery in Normandy near Omaha Beach on Friday American and other allied forces landed on that and other beaches as well as parachuting from the skies to go on to defeat Nazi Germany in World War II WORLD WAR II VETERANS PASSAGE TO NORMANDY FOR EMOTIONAL D-DAY COMMEMORATIONSome U S troops were involved were killed injured Just on that day itself One of those who made it across Omaha Beach is the still-very spry -year-old Minnesota-born Jake Larson He declared to us jubilantly Not only did I make it through six battles I made it without a scratch Somebody upstairs loves me WORLD WAR II VETERANS MOVEMENT TO NORMANDY FOR EMOTIONAL D-DAY COMMEMORATIONDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the ceremony marking the day and met with the dwindling number of World War II veterans He communicated us that alliances were critical on D-Day and still could be critical in these troubled times DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH REVEALS WHY MILITARY RECRUITMENT HAS SOARED UNDER TRUMP America first hasn t meant and doesn t mean 'America alone he added Working with our allies and partners there s a lot we can accomplish now with gathering threats in the world Still various of those who saw action in Normandy and around the globe in World War II are not sure the message has gotten through Two centenarian combat veterans and native New Yorkers brought to France by the Greatest Generations Foundation have their own thoughts Flushing-born Ray Sweeney petitioned rhetorically What did we learn I don t think we learned much We gave up a lot of bodies We had a lot of bodies CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAnd Brooklyn-born Harold Radish noted War is heroic in the movies But in real life it s killing It s not getting along with somebody Still the crowds who came Friday to the now-peaceful French beaches were steady and large A strong sign that sacrifices have been remembered And maybe specific lessons learned
