Anniversary of the normandy invasion, which is taking place this summer, and we thought it certainly fitting to commemorate that event and us putting on these old uniforms, wearing old equipment, it certainly gives us a better perspective and appreciation of what the greatest generation went through. And if we can impart even a small inkling of that to passers by and families who come visit this place, then we feel that weve done a fairly good job. The unit that we portray is the Fourth Infantry Division, and its a unit thats sometimes overshadowed in the realm of world war ii history, but nonetheless, it was one of the spearhead units that was involved in the normandy invasion. It was some of the first amphibious troops who were ashore, and they waded ashore on utah beach. Unbeknown unbeknownst to many of them at that time they had actually landed on the wrong sector. They had landed about a half a mile offcourse and there was a little bit of uncertainty, perhaps hesitation as to what
50mile stretch of coastline defended by german forces. Allied troops suffered more than 9000 casualties but gained a foothold on french soil. Next, the author of the first way talks about the d day invasion and its impact on the war. This is one hour. Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied expedition wars, you are about to embark upon a great crusade for which we have driven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. And company with the brave allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the german war machine. The elimination of nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of europe and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is welltrained, wellequipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. This is the year, 1944. Much has happened since the triumphs of 1940 and 41. The United Nations has inflicted upon the g
A reenactor with the world war ii living history group, and we are here at Army Heritage days at the u. S. Army heritage and Education Center in carlisle, pennsylvania, and at this event, it is a major complex. Were here on the Army Heritage trail, and one can find reenactors or living historians from all different time periods ranging from the 17th surgecentp to the present. My group, though, is here this weekend to discuss the 75th anniversary of the normandy invasion, which is taking place this summer, and we thought it certainly fitting to commemorate that event and us putting on these old uniforms, wearing old equipment, it certainly gives us a better perspective and appreciation of what the greatest generation went through. And if we can impart even a small inkling of that to passers by and families who come visit this place, then we feel that weve done a fairly good job. The unit that we portray is the Fourth Infantry Division, and its a unit thats sometimes overshadowed in the
I may say, of the extent to which that history is being taught in our schools and colleges. Particularly in our schools. The ignorance of the history of our country and particularly of its military history is being widely ignored and thats got to be fixed. And one of the best people to fix it, of course, is our speaker this morning, alex kershaw. We feel in this 75th year of the anniversary of dday, particularly close to what we call the greatest generation, on memorial day we honored americans who had paid the supreme sacrifice in all of our wars. But weve always felt a particular closeness to what we call the greatest generation many of whom are slowly passing from the scene. Steven ambrose, biographer said the quality of character that we impute to them is one which has grown increasingly rare in our culture. Namely, modesty. More than one of these gentlemen is said to me that when people thank him for his service, he is embarrassed. He thanks them for their thanks. But what else wo
Good morning. It is a pleasure and an honor to welcome all of you here for our presentation this morning by alex kershaw. My name is side bunting c y bunting. I work at the world war ii memorial and have the continuous honor and privilege of being from thatmany heroes period in our history and to thosee their families and interested in learning that andory more thoroughly making up the deficiencies, i may say, of the extent to which that history is being taught in our schools and colleges, particularly in our schools. The ignorance of the history of our country, and particularly of its military history, is being being ignored it is widely ignored and that has got to be fixed. One of the best people to fix it, of course, is our speaker this morning, alex kershaw. We feel in the 75th year of the anniversary of dday, particularly close to what we call the greatest generation. On memorial day, we honored who have paid the supreme sacrifice and all of our wars, but we have always felt a par