D-Day: A Memorial
 

Today is the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. The French put aside their hostility momentarily to honor the Americans that saved them from speaking German.

-Rudey

ah.. couldn't resist more French-bashing eh? Oh by the way Skippy... I would venture to guess that there are more Americans hostile to the French that vice-versa (most French dislike Bush, not America).

I think we may be heading over to the D-Day Memorial to commemorate the day. God bless everyone who gave their lives or participated in D-Day and all of WWII.

Actually your guesses are wrong time and time again grunt.

-Rudey

Actually, you're (again) wrong. The polls that I saw a year ago showed that Americans had opinions of European nations (except for france) that were much more favorable than the reverse view. Americans have a very negative view of France, but the French view of America was slightly more negative.

Climb off of the Testarone ladder, please!:mad:

This is not the proper way to do honor the dead from all countrys who fought the Bosch or Hitler as it were!

Many Men and Women Died for what We have today!:cool:

Perhaps you should tell RACooper to keep his trap shut and do some pushups.

We are talking about D-Day when we rescued France. Our boys died and fought valiantly to stop Hitler's aggression and the cheese eating surrender monkeys who surrendered to the Germans to protect pretty buildings and send masses to their deaths in concentration camps. We honor all who fought the evil from America,

-Rudey

This was ment for both. Get it!

Men and women from both Countries died there along with those of other Countries.

This memorial is not the time to try to show yourselves.

Awww.. muffin…. take some deep breaths before that little brain of your’s runs short of oxygen... good there yah go, now keep breathing… wouldn’t want you to tax to much

First your statement about the French being “cheese eating surrender monkeys” is thinly disguised bigotry.. and before you go off on one of your trademark rants.. think of what would happen if instead of you directing comments like that towards the French, you had directed them towards the British or Canadians or Americans or Black or Jewish or whatever.. you would be labeled a bigot.. so I don’t see the difference.

The statement that I made about the French-bashing was based on what I have heard over here (yep I'm in Normandy for D-Day). Believe it or not they get US international news broadcasts over here.. and the little hurtful petty attacks on there nation do tend to add up and generate bitterness... most have commented on the fact that they had not experienced out-right hate until France opposed the US over Iraq, and I have to say that I agree with this feeling.. heck I’m sure of GC history would reveal the same thing.

I have to say that there view of needless war is understandable given what you see just walking around here daily... memorials to many, many past wars with lists of the dead (picture having Vietnam Memorials lying around everywhere.. and just as poignant too). Most of the kids that I have talked to seem to be remarkably well informed about the sacrifices made by past generations, and they are more than willing to express their thanks too. I have seen them give flowers, kisses, hugs, personal letters, and some drinks too to the veterans here. When discussions have turned to politics (as they are want to do given the world situation) between the veterans and others there is a dissatisfaction with the current US ADMINISTRATION’S policies and attitudes towards the rest of the world… the French can differentiate between a nation’s leader and the people of that nation… why can’t you?

See these D-Day services are meant to honour the men and women of ALL nations that fought against tyranny, and the victims of this tyranny. We should be remembering not only the Americans, British, and Canadians who invaded the beaches, but all of the nations that participated in the fight for freedom.

Now I have to go to sleep so I can be up early for the services that start at dawn....

As previously stated: We are talking about D-Day when we rescued France. Our boys died and fought valiantly to stop Hitler's aggression and the cheese eating surrender monkeys who surrendered to the Germans to protect pretty buildings and send masses to their deaths in concentration camps. We honor all who fought the evil from America,

-Rudey

The Allied forces were [amongst others] Americans AND Britons. It was not just Americans that 'saved the French from speaking German'.

eta: As a few others on this thread have mentioned above.

Well said!

Rudey your comments are not only insulting to the French... but you also disparage and dishonour the memories of those many French that died during the D-Day operations and bombardment.

Again, you have trouble reading and aren't intelligent so instead I make you look dumb. Open up some books, and go to sleep and stop responding to me like you're on my nuts.

Yes Decadence, there were other countries in the Allied forces. The quote you took from me is a quote from the NYTimes actually. The quote was geared towards the majority population on here and while I did not mention other countries, I did not take aim at our allies either. The celebrations are talked about in this article . We are well aware of our ally England's sacrifices as well as those from other countries. Do I personally think France is fully accepting of those sacrifices from all our countries? No.

-Rudey

Perhaps if you opened some books too you night realize that some 20,000 French died in the D-Day operations as a result of the bombardment. The services in a few hours will nor only honour those that fought, but remember all of those who died....

While I would find it interesting to see what some American vets over here thought of your comments, I wouldn't be so crass as to show them your comments. I wouldn't dirty the day with your filth.

Further it may just be a Canadian thing, but many of the vets feel that they are forgotten by the American media (not the US vets) and their role in D-Day... after-all there were 5 beaches (2 US, 2UK, 1 Canadian) and the Canadians did advance the furthest inland that day (although not to their objectives).

The French who fought against us and the French who were under DeGaulle when DeGaulle was refusing to aid the allies thank you. 48% of current French who do thank America and the allies and understand the sacrifices made for them do not thank you, but the rest do. Filthy.

-Rudey
--At least take your letters out of your name.

getting back on track...
 

My ex-father in law is a WWII vet who was one of those soldiers who stormed the beach at Normandy. He had never talked about this experience with his family before, but yesterday, while he was babysitting my son, they saw some footage on TV and grandpa finally told him about it. I was glad that he finally shared this information with my son (wish my daughter had been there too) so that my son knows what his grandfather was involved in.

May we remember all those allied forces who gave their lives and those who fought for the world's freedom from that horrendous dictator.

Dee

they aren't forgotten. If you remember America had to deal with Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Pacific as well. So, OUR media is going to concern itself with OUR soldiers more than any of the other allied countries.

Regardless, all of these men deserve the greatest respect and admiration. Our country and this world would be far different from now, if not for their sacrifices.

I do wish that the French could act on their words but here is an exerpt from an article today:

As they addressed the veterans and their families, the presidents of France and the United States put aside their differecences.

"In the name of every French woman and French man, I would like to offer the eternal gratitude of our nation," Mr. Chirac said on a stage facing the graves here.

France will "never forget what it owes to America, its friend forever," Mr. Chirac said.

Mr. Bush said that France was "America's first friend in the world," a reference to the assistance the colonial Americans received from France inthe Revolutionary War.

Above Mr. Bush fluttered an American flag flying at half-mast to honor former President Ronald Reagan, who died Saturday at 93. Twenty years ago Mr. Reagan gave one of the most memorable speeches of his presidency here to mark the 40th anniversary of D-Day, linking the use of American power to free Europe from fascism to his efforts to confront and defeat communism.

http://nytimes.com/2004/06/06/intern...D-PREX.html?hp

Also when I haven't been watching news on Reagan this weekend, I caught quite a few good programs on D-Day. One of the soldiers mention was Jose Lopez .

-Rudey

Just to say that there were services all over town today. I live near Bloor St. in Toronto and saw the parade there. Anyway, here's a list of Canadian coverage of D-Day

Links to Canadian D-Day coverage:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...l=968793972154

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1086260468007 (this article was written by a history teacher who currently teaches at my alma mater.)

Globe and Mail D-Day Special:

http://www.globeandmail.com/special/dday/

More Links from Globe:

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/...ch&query=D-Day

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC):

CBC's D-Day site: http://www.cbc.ca/news/dday/

Well I just got back from my trip to Normandy for the D-Day Ceremonies....

Overall they were very moving and emotional; espically realizing that these were most likely the last ones to be held.

Unfortunately because of time constrants I couldn't make it to the US ceremonies... I had enough touble to make it to the Canadian and some British ceremonies. The main ceremony (the one with all the dignitaries) was um.. "interesting"... the medals presentation and the parade of veterans was great... however the "theatrical" presentation of the history of the war and D-Day could be described as very "French".

Two distinct memories come to mind... one the French definitely do remember the sacrifices made by the Allies on D-Day... everywhere the veterans went they were thanked by young and old alike. For people the worry that France has forgotten what the US... don't... they remember and are extremely grateful... as for the politics I'll paraphrase what one French paratrooper mentioned: "France and America are like brothers, and we will always remember what are brother has done for us. As a brother to America though we have the moral duty to stop them from making what we see as a mistake, just as they would for us. We may fight and we may bicker, but in the end we are still brothers, and we still love one another."

The second memory was perhaps the most tear-jerking one for me.... Ranville cemetery. Ranville is the cemetary where the German chancellor went to pay his respects to some German veterans buried their. Ranville Cemetery is a Commonwealth Gravesite where British, Canadian, othe Commonwealth Troops, French, and German dead are buried. While I was there I saw veterans of both sides breaking down when see the names of old friends, and former enemies using each other for support....

I recommend that people visit CNN.com, CBC.com, and BBC.com to get a breadth of pictures and stories.

Brother Cooper,

thank you for sharing this with us. I am sure your heart was very very heavy.

I am glad that you were able to go there to Remembr All Of The FALLEN HEROS!:cool: