Message from Councilman Roc White | June 9, 2023
D-Day: A Timeless Symbol of Sacrifice, Courage, and Unity
It has been 79 years since the heroic events of D-Day unfolded on five beaches in Normandy, France.
As Scotch Plains veterans and many others reflect this week on this key piece of World War II history, it is crucial to recognize the enduring significance and lessons it holds for our world today. D-Day – with its terror and triumphs; its sights and sounds – stands as a timeless symbol of sacrifice, courage, and unity by American soldiers and our allies across the globe.
To me, and many other veterans, the D-Day invasion – with 7,000 ships and 195,000 military personnel from eight allied countries – is the most poignant example of the indomitable human spirit and the pursuit of freedom.
I often use this column to highlight the fact that we are steadily losing our “Greatest Generation.” Every day, memories of D-Day disappear. The surviving men who fought and won on that beach are now in their 90s or older.
In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports there are only 167,284 of the 16 million Americans who served in the entire war still alive last year. Honoring the sacrifice on D-Day seems more important now, than ever.
By remembering D-Day, and sharing important lessons with our children and grandchildren, we pay homage to these servicemen and servicewomen, ensuring their bravery and patriotism is forever etched in our collective memory. Together, these soldiers were able to turn the tide of the war, ultimately defeating Nazism in May 1945.
When I speak to my own children about D-Day, I explain that it was an unparalleled feat of bravery, with countless unsung heroes who made this victory possible.
Movies like “Saving Private Ryan” help visualize the chaos of the invasion. From the infantry storming the beaches riddled with bullets to the pilots soaring through enemy fire to the logisticians ensuring a smooth operation, it was a daunting military maneuver that relied on precision, planning and enormous determination.
Today, as any other day, we remember the 29,000 American lives lost on D-Day and the 106,000 wounded or missing.
D-Day is not just a lesson in history. It is also relevant to our lifetime. It demonstrates what can be accomplished through the power of collaboration and unity, as nations put aside differences and join forces to combat a common enemy.
In an era in which division and discord often dominate the headlines – especially as we move toward another Presidential election – D-Day serves as a potent reminder of the strength and resilience that can be achieved by pursuing the greater good.
It inspires us to seek common ground, bridge divides, and work together; here in Scotch Plains, and all over the world.
