Remembering D-Day

It boggles the mind to think of the courage and the sacrifice of American troops as we commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Just imagine landing on Normandy Beach aboard a barge, and having to run across the beach and then scale a cliff under a barrage of enemy fire.

As we marvel at their bravery, General Patton's words come to mind: It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.

Here are President Reagan's remarks on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. And many of his words carry renewed relevance today:

The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead, or on the next. It was the deep knowledge -- and pray God we have not lost it -- that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.

And indeed, like our soldiers today, those men were right not to doubt.