KYIV, Ukraine—This week we honor the soldiers who saved Europe by storming the beaches of Normandy 75 years ago on D-Day—June 6, 1944.
These soldiers were not born and bred to be warriors. No, they were born as free men, with other plans besides going to war. Family. Career. A life lived with purpose in peace and in pursuit of happiness. These were the ordinary dreams of ordinary men. But fate had the last word. Theirs was a generation unfortunately born into a historical moment that demanded exceptional sacrifices.
These soldiers were not born and bred to be warriors. No, they were born as free men, with other plans besides going to war. Family. Career. A life lived with purpose in peace and in pursuit of happiness. These were the ordinary dreams of ordinary men. But fate had the last word. Theirs was a generation unfortunately born into a historical moment that demanded exceptional sacrifices.