Next up in the tributes this week to our Veterans is a speech by Ronald Reagan.

Here is a link to this speech:

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-d-day.htm

This one is a little longer, but I highly encourage you to read it.

It is a speech he gave on the 40th anniversary of D-Day.

What a powerful and symbolic moment in history.

This paragraph from the speech really stuck with me:

"The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers — the edge of the cliffs shooting down at them with machineguns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After 2 days of fighting, only 90 could still bear arms."

I remember when "Saving Private Ryan" was released in the theatres. On one of the new shows they interviewed a gentleman that had been one of these Army Rangers on that fateful day.

He told the story of running on the beach and stopping behind a rock. For some reason he thought it would be a good time for a smoke and pulled out a cigarette. Only there was a problem. His hand was shaking so badly he couldn’t even get his lighter to work.

Can you imagine?

You can’t even light a cigarette but you still choose to press forward. To climb cliffs and face machine guns.

That interview has stuck with me since that day (I looked it up, that was 1998).

Remember today to be thankful for our heroes.

Make it a great day.

Jake