people of this continent to a long twilight struggle until finally a wall tumbled down and an iron curtain, too. from western europe to east to south america to southeast asia, 70 years of the democratic movement spread. and nations that once knew only the blinders of fear began to taste the blessings of freedom. >> there's no doubt, the events of june 6th, 1944, changed the course of history. msnbc contributor mike barnacle takes a look back on this hockeyic day. >> facing west. towards the beach, where they landed. the channel they crossed. and the land that they left to come and help rid the world of the terror that was hitler's third rite. omaha beach, the american cemetery, normandy. 172 acres, 9,386 headstones. bleached white by sun, wind and