Last Tuesday we celebrated locally ... with gratitude ... 730 years of priestly service by 15 of our priests on Jubilee Day in the Diocese of Greensburg.
On Thursday of last week we as a nation and indeed most of Europe and a great many in the world family honored ... with deep gratitude ... the deep and awesome sacrifice of so many on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy and a turning point in World war II.
In the news and on TV we saw images of this devastating yet inspiring force that fought for freedom and for the freedom that we now share. The images of the battle and of the honoring of those who remain were moving, and the pictures of the graves in France and the remembrance of the growing number of this "greatest generation" that have died in these last 75 years brought a great sadness to many hearts.
My Dad was one of those that stormed the beaches of Normandy that day. He was wounded but thankfully survived. He spoke little of those days until a number of years ago when Tom Brokow began to reveal the sacrifice of who he called "the greatest generation." Dad took great pride in his service during the war, but never boasted. Rather he viewed those days with respect and humility.
A short time following his death I made a trip to the National D-Day Memorial near Staunton in Virginia. It is not as well known as some memorials, but it is inspiring as it honors those who fought and died on those beaches 75 years ago. Janie and I also were able to be present a number of years ago for the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. Another place to visit and honor ... with gratitude ... the veterans of the D-Day invasion.
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