On dedicating another cemetery to those killed in action at an earlier time, President Lincoln said, “it is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.” And so it was … and so it is again.
On June 7th, the Western democracies memorialize another cemetery – this time in France. More than 26,000 brave allied soldiers are laid to rest in French cemeteries as the result of the bloodiest battles in world history. Untold millions of victims of Adolph Hitler’s insane and ruthless ambition for world power and domination are buried in countless other locations across the globe.
As is so often said at annual memorials of D-Day, “words cannot express…” That could not be more true, but words and memories are all we have.
The United States – and our allies – were hellbent on a mission – a goal — to stop the bloody perpetrators of war to not only defeat them, but to destroy them.
World War II saw a great unity and dedication to a cause greater than life itself. Men and women from many nations volunteered to protect the lives and freedoms of loved ones – families, friends and folks they did not know. If World War II was the bloodiest in human history, it was met with the greatest nobility of purpose and courage.
Such remembrance also includes the words, “We shall not forget.” But did we? What has happened since D-Day and the end of World War II has not led to world peace, as the orators often suggest. For the United States, it has been a prolonged Cold War and a series of never-ending proxy wars and conflicts – mostly without clear purpose and victories over tyranny.
Even in victory, the United States had a frail terminally ill President engage in negotiations that surrendered the freedom of the nations of eastern Europe to the ally-turned-enemy – the Soviet Union – setting the stage for many of the wars that ensued.
Within five years of the end of World War II, the United States became engaged in the Korean War – the stated mission of which was to prevent Communist China from seizing control of Southeast Asia. America did not win that war. In fact, the United States officially remains in a “state of war” with North Korea. After suffering major losses, we walked away in defeat – leaving half that nation in the hands of the enemy. A defeat that has major ramifications in the world today.
America took up the war against Communist advancement in Vietnam. After years of bloody conflict, the United States withdrew — surrendered. Unlike Korea, we lost the entire nation to the enemy. And also, unlike Korea, because of years of diplomacy on both sides – and Vietnam’s fear of China – a friendly relationship has developed.
Following President Obama’s commitment to liberate the people of Syria from the bloody tyranny of dictator Bashar al Asaad, we “withdrew – leaving the nation in the hands of the enemy, an ally of Russia.
In what has been called the longest war in American history, President Biden ordered a surrender against the counsel of his military advisors and ally leaders. Again, the most powerful nation on earth turned over another nation to the enemy.
When Russian madman Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, the United States and our NATO allies offered strong verbal condemnations, but restrained military responses. The United States’ too little/too late response has resulted in a prolonged conflict with yet an uncertain outcome.
Now with the war on our ally Israel – launched by Hamas – we are again sounding the uncertain trumpet. And the just battle by Israel is turned – at least currently – into a public relations victory for Hamas – with the United States contributing to that propaganda effort.
Yes, we remember and celebrate the victory of D-Day – and the heroic sacrifice of so many good Americans – but we seem to have forgotten the purpose, to make the world free for democracy, We have been losing that battle incrementally for 80 years.
So, there ‘tis.