Sam Graves-Remembering the 80th Anniversary of D-Day

Dear Friend,

In the early hours of June 6, 1944, under the cover of darkness, American and British paratroopers dropped into Normandy from more than 1,200 aircraft. The largest naval bombardment the world has ever seen began at 5:30 AM, lasting only 40 minutes. American battleships, supported by cruisers and destroyers and the British Royal Navy, shelled German defensive positions around the beaches of Normandy. The sunrise brought with it waves of landing vessels carrying American, British, Canadian, and French troops who stormed over fifty miles of fiercely defended coastline in Northern France.

That day, 156,000 young men embarked on an invasion that forever changed the world. More than 9,000 of them sacrificed life and limb to secure a foothold for freedom in Europe. By nightfall on D-Day, Allied forces had prevailed against German defenses on all five beachheads. Hitler’s vaunted Atlantic Wall lasted less than twenty-four hours.

Leading the troops on that pivotal day was General Omar Bradley, a native of North Missouri. His leadership was instrumental in the victory, and he would command a staggering 1.3 million men until the war’s end. Born in Randolph County, Bradley’s military career was a shining example, culminating in his retirement as the last five-star General. On D-Day, he demonstrated a level of leadership that was genuinely exceptional, paving the way for a victory that surpassed all expectations.

While very few are still with us, we are forever indebted to those who fought on D-Day. The ones who did come home that day did so without many friends and fellow soldiers who faced the battle with them. Ignoring the cost, they committed their lives to defending our country.

On this 80th anniversary of D-Day, join me in pausing to remember those brave heroes and those who served and sacrificed for this great country during that time in our Nation’s history, ensuring we remain free today.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves