“Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their value [valor], and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.”
– President Ronald Reagan’s “Boys of Pointe du Hoc speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of D-Day.
Eighty-one years ago last week, brave American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, altering the course of history. As a student of history, I’ve read countless accounts of World War II—but nothing prepared me for the feeling of standing where it all happened.
Walking along Omaha and Utah Beach, looking out from the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, and standing in the American Cemetery in Normandy, you understand what words can’t fully capture. These men, many younger than I am now, ran headlong into gunfire. They understood the stakes. They knew the odds. And still, they moved forward—for freedom, for each other, for us.
These men answered the call for freedom. They heard the cries of a continent in peril. Jews were imprisoned and murdered in concentration camps. Much of Europe—France included—was gripped by Nazi tyranny. Brave civilians risked their lives smuggling intelligence to the Allies, holding out hope for a rescue, for liberation.
The United States, together with Allied forces, prepared for what would become one of the bloodiest invasions in world history. Secrecy was paramount—decoy missions and false reports were deployed to mislead the Germans. But the mission was unmistakably clear: land on those beaches and liberate France. Despite knowing the slim odds of survival, they strapped on their gear, boarded their ships and planes, and, without hesitation, marched into history.
In the early hours of June 6th, the thunder of artillery and aircraft shook the Normandy coast. Paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines. Rangers scaled the sheer cliffs of Pointe du Hoc. And American forces surged onto the beaches. Against all odds, they broke through the German defenses and began the push inland—turning the tide of the war.
D-Day marked the turning point of World War II. Though the fighting would rage on, this was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. For millions under occupation, this moment was more than a military assault—it was the arrival of hope. The prayer for freedom had been answered.
Throughout France, I saw hundreds of American flags, children dressed in U.S. uniforms, and the unmistakable sound of American planes and vehicles echoing along the coast. The French call this week La Libération, honoring the Americans who gave them hope in their darkest hour.
Eighty-one years ago, my great-grandfather stood on Omaha Beach as a Captain in the U.S. Army. When I think of an American hero, I think of him. I am profoundly grateful for his sacrifice and honored to share in his legacy. He was part of the greatest generation.
Few words can fully capture the emotion of being the first person in my family to return to Omaha Beach. Standing at the edge of the clear blue water, waves crashing at my feet, you look up at the rolling hills of Normandy— I feel the weight of history. It was chilling to realize the last time a relative stood on this sand he was running towards those hills under Nazi artillery fire, a rifle in hand. The very rifle that now rests in your home, a silent witness you’ve known since you were a little girl.
As I walked on the beaches of Normandy, I was not there as a visitor but as a witness—a witness to the sacrifice and courage of something far greater than myself. My great-grandfather’s footsteps, now buried in sand and time, became vividly real. His story is not just my family’s story; it is an American story. A story we must carry forward for generations to come.
Freedom is not inherited—we must defend it. Each day, we face the choice to uphold it. This requires vigilance, courage, and commitment. It is a cause worthy of our defense. This is our duty as Americans.
We carry the responsibility to remember their sacrifice. We carry the obligation to tell their stories. We carry the privilege of living in the freedom they secured.
