american today? these rangers remembered with reverence those who gave their lives in battle. could they or anyone ever imagine that america wouldn't do the same? they believed america was the beacon of the world. i'm certain they believed that it with be that way forever. you know, we stand today where we stand -- that's what became june 6th. the rangers who scaled this cliff didn't know they would change the world but they did. i've long said that history has shown that ordinary americans can do extraordinary things when challenged. there is no better example of that in the entire world than right here at pointe du hoc. rangers from farms and cities and every part of america, from homes that didn't know wealth and power.