WEBVTT 00:08.289 --> 00:11.430 Thank you , Mayor . I now present the 00:11.439 --> 00:13.106 president of the Best Defense 00:13.106 --> 00:16.670 Foundation , the president of the 00:16.879 --> 00:20.510 Defense Foundation , Donny Edwards and 00:20.520 --> 00:23.040 Jack Foy World War Two veteran from the 00:23.049 --> 00:24.882 87th Infantry division , General 00:24.882 --> 00:26.105 Patton's third Army , 00:51.520 --> 00:54.049 ladies and gentlemen , distinguished 00:54.090 --> 00:57.669 guests and veterans on behalf of a 00:57.680 --> 00:59.902 great team of volunteers and partners . 00:59.902 --> 01:01.902 I stand before you as a founder and 01:01.902 --> 01:03.569 president of the Best Defense 01:03.569 --> 01:05.791 Foundation . My name is Donny Edwards . 01:05.791 --> 01:07.847 It is with great pride and gratitude 01:07.847 --> 01:11.040 that I share with you today today . As 01:11.050 --> 01:13.050 we stand here on this hollow ground 01:13.330 --> 01:16.139 overlooking the Serene Omaha Beach , we 01:16.150 --> 01:18.489 find ourselves 79 years away from a day 01:18.500 --> 01:20.889 of great significance a day that speaks 01:20.900 --> 01:23.550 volume about the human spirit , the 01:23.559 --> 01:25.720 courage to stand up for what is right 01:25.860 --> 01:29.150 and the power of unity . 79 years ago , 01:29.160 --> 01:30.993 this very beach was a theater of 01:30.993 --> 01:33.540 humanity's determination to secure 01:33.550 --> 01:36.370 freedom , peace and justice for all . 01:36.800 --> 01:38.819 It wasn't just a battle , it was a 01:38.830 --> 01:42.470 promise , a promise of a future free 01:42.480 --> 01:45.330 from tyranny and oppression , dear 01:45.339 --> 01:48.569 veterans in the panorama of history . I 01:48.580 --> 01:51.339 ask you to look back and reflect upon 01:51.349 --> 01:54.449 that day in your hearts . It's forever 01:54.459 --> 01:56.348 are the memories of the ferocious 01:56.348 --> 01:59.330 battle , the courage , the sacrifices 01:59.790 --> 02:02.290 you stood firm united under the banner 02:02.300 --> 02:04.078 of freedom , unyielding in your 02:04.078 --> 02:05.800 determination to safeguard our 02:05.800 --> 02:08.039 cherished values . Today , we stand 02:08.050 --> 02:10.229 here a testament to your resilience . 02:10.240 --> 02:12.407 We look upon a liberated norm , a free 02:12.407 --> 02:14.910 France . A Europe that probably 02:14.919 --> 02:18.270 symbolizes democracy and justice and we 02:18.279 --> 02:21.000 owe it to you to your unwavering spirit , 02:21.009 --> 02:23.919 your fortitude and your sacrifice . Yet 02:23.929 --> 02:26.160 we must remember that that day did not 02:26.169 --> 02:28.190 come without a price . Thousands of 02:28.199 --> 02:30.729 brave souls perished on D day . And 02:30.740 --> 02:32.889 throughout the war , their lives 02:32.899 --> 02:35.160 offered in a pursuit of a free and a 02:35.169 --> 02:38.130 just world . They did not fall in vain . 02:38.529 --> 02:40.809 Their sacrifice is a cornerstone upon 02:40.820 --> 02:43.669 which the world we know today is built 02:43.679 --> 02:47.460 on these anniversaries . These moments 02:47.470 --> 02:49.820 of remembrance are more than just dates 02:49.830 --> 02:51.869 on the calendar . They are an 02:51.880 --> 02:54.270 opportunity to pay homage to our past , 02:54.300 --> 02:56.356 to honor those who put themselves in 02:56.356 --> 02:58.411 harm's way for the collective good . 02:58.649 --> 03:00.871 It's a call for us to remember the cost 03:00.871 --> 03:02.982 of freedom and the duty we owe to our 03:02.982 --> 03:05.093 predecessors and future generations . 03:05.093 --> 03:07.038 Ladies and gentlemen , freedom and 03:07.038 --> 03:08.982 liberty are not destinations but a 03:08.982 --> 03:11.093 journey , a journey that has embarked 03:11.093 --> 03:13.750 upon 79 years ago on this very day . 03:14.520 --> 03:16.576 Yet , this journey is not complete . 03:16.576 --> 03:18.576 The spirit of D day . The spirit of 03:18.576 --> 03:20.798 standing against tyranny shall never be 03:20.798 --> 03:23.130 forgotten . Today . We must recognize 03:23.139 --> 03:25.195 the struggle for our cherished ideas 03:25.195 --> 03:27.679 that does not end as we navigate the 03:27.690 --> 03:29.949 complex landscape of our times . It's 03:29.960 --> 03:32.399 our duty to uphold these values , to 03:32.410 --> 03:34.860 guard them against any forces that seek 03:34.929 --> 03:37.589 to undermine them . Our debt is to you 03:37.600 --> 03:40.509 dear veterans is immense . It's a debt 03:40.520 --> 03:42.131 that cannot be repaid . Only 03:42.131 --> 03:44.353 acknowledged with the deepest gratitude 03:44.353 --> 03:46.409 and respect . As we cannot replicate 03:46.409 --> 03:48.353 your sacrifices . We can strive to 03:48.353 --> 03:50.353 honor them by standing firm against 03:50.353 --> 03:52.576 adversity and defending your values for 03:52.576 --> 03:54.631 which you fought and their torture . 03:54.631 --> 03:56.631 Freedom continues to shine brightly 03:56.740 --> 03:59.289 today as we commemorate the 79th 03:59.300 --> 04:01.410 anniversary of D day . Let us renew 04:01.419 --> 04:04.110 this commitment to freedom to justice 04:04.119 --> 04:06.559 and to teach and to each other . Let us 04:06.570 --> 04:08.792 pledge to make the world a better place 04:08.792 --> 04:10.848 that reflects the values that you so 04:10.848 --> 04:13.160 bravely fought for . Thank you for your 04:13.169 --> 04:16.390 service , your courage , your sacrifice , 04:16.399 --> 04:18.510 and your unwavering commitment to the 04:18.510 --> 04:20.399 ideas we hold dear to continue to 04:20.399 --> 04:23.000 inspire us . It has been my profound 04:23.010 --> 04:25.177 honor to address you all today on this 04:25.177 --> 04:28.619 special day , June six mercy and May 04:28.630 --> 04:29.741 God bless America , 04:45.350 --> 04:48.359 distinguished distinguished guests , 04:48.369 --> 04:51.779 fellow veterans , especially the front 04:51.929 --> 04:54.299 line infantry , some of my companions 04:54.309 --> 04:58.019 over here , I was an infantry machine 04:58.029 --> 05:00.359 gunner part of General George Patton's 05:00.369 --> 05:03.190 famous third army in a foxhole just 05:03.200 --> 05:05.980 outside of Bastone , Belgium in what 05:05.989 --> 05:08.322 became known as the battle of the bulge . 05:09.250 --> 05:12.100 Let me take you back about 79 years . 05:12.320 --> 05:14.542 We're just getting ready to jump off in 05:14.542 --> 05:16.820 an attack and a strong German position . 05:17.609 --> 05:19.609 The temperatures are about 10 below 05:19.609 --> 05:22.750 zero a foot or so of snow on the ground . 05:23.140 --> 05:25.200 German artillery is blasting our 05:25.209 --> 05:27.959 position . The ground is heaving up and 05:27.970 --> 05:29.637 down with the violence of the 05:29.637 --> 05:32.380 explosions , trees are splintering and 05:32.390 --> 05:35.410 crashing to the ground . The shrapnel 05:35.420 --> 05:37.660 is slicing into the soldier's flesh , 05:38.649 --> 05:41.149 rifle and machine gun fire splits the 05:41.160 --> 05:44.170 air . The sound is deafening and 05:44.179 --> 05:47.549 overwhelming . We are the machine gun 05:47.559 --> 05:49.726 section of what is left of an infantry 05:49.726 --> 05:53.170 company of the 87th infantry division , 05:53.470 --> 05:55.859 part of General George Patton's famous 05:55.869 --> 05:59.779 third army . Hardly 05:59.790 --> 06:03.600 more than boys . Most of us , 18 1920 06:03.609 --> 06:06.700 years old , within about 10 yards of 06:06.709 --> 06:08.931 our position , there were the bodies of 06:08.931 --> 06:11.140 three of my comrades men that I can 06:11.149 --> 06:13.459 never forget Finn West Poo , 06:14.649 --> 06:17.089 half buried in the snow and frozen in 06:17.100 --> 06:20.070 the 10 below zero weather enemies that 06:20.079 --> 06:23.510 still serves my mind . After 79 years , 06:24.839 --> 06:26.895 there would be many more before this 06:26.895 --> 06:30.079 war was over . My machine gun squad is 06:30.089 --> 06:33.929 now down to two . For the most part , 06:33.940 --> 06:35.884 we were Children of the twenties , 06:35.884 --> 06:37.662 citizen soldiers , draftees and 06:37.662 --> 06:40.880 volunteers , young men raised during 06:40.890 --> 06:43.209 the Great Depression . We did not 06:43.220 --> 06:45.130 experience the carefree days of 06:45.140 --> 06:48.359 childhood . Some of by the call to arms , 06:48.369 --> 06:50.425 especially the sneak attack on Pearl 06:50.425 --> 06:53.760 Harbor . We came from across the land 06:53.940 --> 06:56.107 from the farms and the schools and the 06:56.107 --> 06:58.470 factories from the sidewalks of New 06:58.480 --> 07:00.630 York to the shores of San Francisco . 07:00.640 --> 07:04.470 We came resourceful , tough 07:04.549 --> 07:06.605 and tempered as hard as steel in the 07:06.605 --> 07:08.630 crucible of the Great Depression . 07:09.359 --> 07:11.690 These men were as tough as the times in 07:11.700 --> 07:14.450 which we were raised . These are the 07:14.459 --> 07:16.570 men who made up the fighting strength 07:16.570 --> 07:20.230 of the divisions carried out . The 07:20.239 --> 07:22.670 orders of the generals engaged the 07:22.679 --> 07:25.600 Germans in mortal combat . These are 07:25.609 --> 07:28.059 the men you see here before you . It 07:28.070 --> 07:30.700 may be hard to believe . But we were 07:30.709 --> 07:34.480 once young and strong . The 07:34.489 --> 07:36.600 battle of the be started in the early 07:36.600 --> 07:39.709 morning of December the 16th 1944 07:40.619 --> 07:43.890 when three German armies about 500,000 07:43.899 --> 07:46.690 men attack what was basically four 07:46.700 --> 07:50.470 American divisions ? About 50,000 men 07:50.970 --> 07:53.989 in the area of Belgium and Luxembourg . 07:54.779 --> 07:57.070 They covered the front of about 75 to 07:57.079 --> 08:00.940 80 miles . These units were outnumbered 08:00.950 --> 08:03.130 over 10 to 1 by the massive German 08:03.140 --> 08:07.019 assault . The weather 08:07.029 --> 08:09.369 was ideal from the German point of view , 08:09.540 --> 08:12.519 snow and fog . The American Air Force 08:12.529 --> 08:16.059 was almost useless . The early morning 08:16.070 --> 08:18.399 stillness of the fine shrouded forest 08:18.649 --> 08:20.769 was suddenly shattered with a thunder 08:20.779 --> 08:23.579 clap of a massive artillery brash 08:23.720 --> 08:26.440 landing on the Americans . The 08:26.450 --> 08:30.130 onslaught had begun . We were dry mouth 08:30.160 --> 08:32.450 and our guts cheered with f masses of 08:32.460 --> 08:35.429 German troopers dressed in great coats , 08:35.700 --> 08:37.533 emerged to the veil of the early 08:37.533 --> 08:40.340 morning fog and mist and charged 08:40.349 --> 08:43.630 towards them like men possessed low in 08:43.640 --> 08:45.789 their fox holes . The G I S prayed to 08:45.799 --> 08:48.309 the Lord and opened fire with their 08:48.320 --> 08:50.260 rifles and machine guns at the 08:50.270 --> 08:52.190 overwhelming Nazi assault . 08:54.010 --> 08:55.690 We knew that feeling of utter 08:55.700 --> 08:59.299 exhaustion , the inability of our flesh 08:59.309 --> 09:02.219 and blood to continue on . Yet we must 09:02.229 --> 09:05.989 continue or die . We knew firsthand the 09:06.000 --> 09:08.809 violent pounding of the , of the heart , 09:08.820 --> 09:10.931 the cold sweat , the trembling of the 09:10.931 --> 09:13.690 body and the stark terror that mortal 09:13.700 --> 09:17.099 Kombat brings . It was a hell that had 09:17.109 --> 09:20.859 to be endured and we endured it . There 09:20.869 --> 09:23.239 is no way to convey to you the agony , 09:23.650 --> 09:26.940 the misery of frontline infantry combat 09:27.559 --> 09:30.380 even nature was our enemy with a 09:30.390 --> 09:32.750 bitterly cold . Often below zero 09:32.760 --> 09:36.140 weather , the ground was frozen solid . 09:36.500 --> 09:40.390 The skies were gray . The the the 09:40.400 --> 09:42.760 days were short with daylight at eight 09:42.770 --> 09:46.299 and darkness by four , the nights were 09:46.309 --> 09:48.469 long and frigid and snow covered the 09:48.479 --> 09:51.820 battlefield . G I S their bodies numb 09:52.520 --> 09:54.520 were blue lipped and chilled to the 09:54.520 --> 09:57.520 bone . Only a very few of us had proper 09:57.530 --> 10:00.450 winter clothing . We very rarely had a 10:00.460 --> 10:03.409 chance to be inside a house . We were 10:03.419 --> 10:06.059 outside in the zero weather 24 hours a 10:06.070 --> 10:09.299 day , day after day without relief . 10:11.440 --> 10:13.440 These are the soldiers who when the 10:13.440 --> 10:16.390 officers and sergeants lay dead , held 10:16.400 --> 10:18.511 the enemy at bay in the days when the 10:18.511 --> 10:20.679 heavens were falling and the 10:20.690 --> 10:22.919 battlefield was out , was in flamed 10:23.099 --> 10:25.380 with all the fire and noise humanly 10:25.390 --> 10:28.570 possible for over a million warriors to 10:28.580 --> 10:32.099 create . For a brief moment in history . 10:32.840 --> 10:35.059 These men held our nation's destiny in 10:35.070 --> 10:37.969 their hands . We did not fail . 10:39.219 --> 10:41.052 The assault pushed the defending 10:41.052 --> 10:43.039 Americans back . But they made the 10:43.049 --> 10:45.271 Germans paid dearly for the ground that 10:45.271 --> 10:48.219 they gained . Our army suffered an 10:48.229 --> 10:51.260 average of 500 men 10:51.270 --> 10:54.950 killed and 1000 men wounded 10:55.260 --> 10:57.909 every day for the over six weeks that 10:57.919 --> 11:00.950 the bulges lasted . And that was just 11:00.960 --> 11:03.190 in the bulge area , not the rest of 11:03.200 --> 11:07.099 Europe or the Pacific . How I ever 11:07.109 --> 11:09.109 survived that slaughter and kept my 11:09.109 --> 11:11.979 sanity . I will never know that I had a 11:11.989 --> 11:14.719 strong faith in God and in my Catholic 11:14.729 --> 11:18.179 faith certainly helps . Although much 11:18.190 --> 11:20.890 of what we did was completely alien to 11:20.900 --> 11:23.880 those teachings . The killings were the 11:23.890 --> 11:27.719 worst . Almost every day , one or more 11:27.729 --> 11:30.489 of us would be killed and every day we 11:30.500 --> 11:33.190 would kill Germans after a while , he 11:33.200 --> 11:36.099 became almost numb to it . If you dwell 11:36.109 --> 11:38.276 on it and thought about it , you would 11:38.276 --> 11:41.450 probably go crazy . One of the worst 11:41.460 --> 11:44.479 things was that even a fairly minor 11:44.489 --> 11:47.559 wounds could be fatal . The temperature 11:47.570 --> 11:50.229 was still down around zero . And if 11:50.239 --> 11:52.770 someone was immobilized , they would 11:52.780 --> 11:55.119 often freeze the dust before help could 11:55.130 --> 11:59.000 get to them . The battle lasted 11:59.010 --> 12:02.849 until early February 1945 . More than a 12:02.859 --> 12:05.469 million men participated in this battle . 12:05.799 --> 12:07.688 It was to become the greatest and 12:07.688 --> 12:09.688 bloodiest battle ever fought by the 12:09.688 --> 12:12.909 United States army , but the cost of 12:12.919 --> 12:16.070 victory was high . They're in the 12:16.599 --> 12:18.821 Ardennes and their cold brutal field of 12:18.821 --> 12:22.530 battle . 19,000 young Americans 12:22.539 --> 12:25.380 answered the angel's trumpet call and 12:25.390 --> 12:27.340 had their rendezvous with death . 12:27.710 --> 12:31.520 19,000 purple hearts were 12:31.530 --> 12:34.479 awarded by the thousands . The battle 12:34.489 --> 12:37.190 about across the American Army . About 12:37.200 --> 12:40.429 90,000 casualties , about 12:40.440 --> 12:43.559 19,000 killed in action , 20 12:43.570 --> 12:46.789 20,000 taken prisoner and about 12:46.799 --> 12:50.710 50,000 were wounded . When we left 12:50.719 --> 12:52.941 the bulge . I left many friends there . 12:53.320 --> 12:55.431 Our machine gun section which started 12:55.431 --> 12:58.679 out with 12 men was now down to four . 12:59.109 --> 13:01.380 We had five killed and three badly 13:01.390 --> 13:04.369 wounded . Our company was badly 13:04.380 --> 13:08.090 decimated down to about 40 men left 13:08.099 --> 13:11.309 from 200 . We received 13:11.320 --> 13:14.020 replacements and continued our fights 13:14.030 --> 13:16.820 through the Sigfried Line amphibious 13:16.830 --> 13:19.080 assaults across the Mosel and then the 13:19.090 --> 13:21.750 Rhine Rivers under the leadership of 13:21.760 --> 13:24.520 General George Patton all the way 13:24.530 --> 13:27.020 across Germany to Czechoslovakia where 13:27.030 --> 13:30.659 we met the Russian army . What we did , 13:30.919 --> 13:34.539 what we experienced represents the love 13:34.549 --> 13:36.609 of our country , the love of our 13:36.619 --> 13:39.000 religious faith , the love of our 13:39.010 --> 13:42.099 fellow citizens and our love of freedom . 13:42.770 --> 13:45.030 We saw what a lack of love and a lack 13:45.039 --> 13:48.280 of freedom could do . We saw the 13:48.289 --> 13:50.650 concentration camps . We saw the 13:50.659 --> 13:53.979 prisoner of war camps . I was involved 13:53.989 --> 13:55.767 in the liberation of Buchenwald 13:55.767 --> 13:59.059 concentration camp , one of the largest 13:59.299 --> 14:02.929 in order of concentration camp . We saw 14:02.940 --> 14:06.039 the bodies stacked like cordwood bodies 14:06.049 --> 14:08.229 were still being burned in the ovens . 14:08.719 --> 14:10.849 We saw the inmates , they starve 14:10.859 --> 14:14.710 skeletons too weak to move . We saw the 14:14.719 --> 14:17.650 violent humanity of man against man , 14:18.789 --> 14:20.960 tears too well in my eyes . I remember 14:20.969 --> 14:24.059 all the friends they lost in the fields , 14:24.070 --> 14:27.609 towns and cities of Europe , not only a 14:27.619 --> 14:31.270 memorial Day or Veterans Day , but many , 14:31.780 --> 14:34.849 but many times every day . Why them and 14:34.859 --> 14:37.419 not me ? Did someone else take the 14:37.429 --> 14:40.479 bullet intended for me ? I got hit 14:40.489 --> 14:43.539 three times but only very minor flesh 14:43.549 --> 14:46.570 wounds . I only know that God took them 14:46.580 --> 14:50.559 at 18 1920 years of age and has allowed 14:50.570 --> 14:53.830 me to reach my 98th year . I thank him 14:53.840 --> 14:57.150 for it every day . My grandchildren 14:57.159 --> 15:00.049 sometimes ask , were you a hero in the 15:00.059 --> 15:03.559 water ? Poppy ? My answer is no . 15:04.000 --> 15:07.640 But I was in a company of heroes ask 15:07.650 --> 15:10.450 yourselves now with heads bowed from 15:10.460 --> 15:12.809 where ? Oh God came such men as these , 15:13.190 --> 15:15.523 the warriors of the greatest generation , 15:15.789 --> 15:18.011 a generation that is taking their final 15:18.011 --> 15:21.830 curtain calls of over 1000 men a 15:21.840 --> 15:25.469 day and soon we all will have left . 15:26.630 --> 15:30.619 This country was truly blessed . Yards , 15:30.780 --> 15:33.619 woods are silent . Now the battle of 15:33.630 --> 15:37.260 smoke has fled 70 years and nine have 15:37.270 --> 15:40.830 passed . Now . Only memories 15:41.559 --> 15:45.520 and the dead . May God bless you may 15:45.530 --> 15:47.729 God bless America and their troops 15:47.739 --> 15:50.619 serving around the world . Thank you . 16:52.760 --> 16:55.010 Thank you me . See , Mister Edwards and 16:55.020 --> 16:58.359 Mister Foy . I now introduce the senior 16:58.369 --> 17:00.536 senator from Kansas and ranking member 17:00.536 --> 17:02.536 of the Senate Committee on Veterans 17:02.536 --> 17:04.425 Affairs . The Senator of Kansas , 17:17.319 --> 17:21.209 I'm in the company of Heroes . It's an 17:21.219 --> 17:23.390 honor to be here to represent the 17:23.400 --> 17:26.298 United States Senate and to be here 17:26.308 --> 17:28.389 with Mayor Tomans . Mr Edwards , 17:28.399 --> 17:30.838 General Milley Secretary Austin 17:30.848 --> 17:33.329 Ambassador Bauer and the American 17:33.339 --> 17:35.561 Battle Monuments Commission to mark the 17:35.561 --> 17:39.040 anniversary of D day and to 17:39.050 --> 17:42.500 repay our respects and honor the memory 17:42.869 --> 17:46.520 of those who fought for freedom on 17:46.530 --> 17:50.400 these beaches . I'm also honored 17:50.410 --> 17:53.119 to be here representing Kansans 17:54.180 --> 17:57.250 home of President Dwight D Eisenhower , 17:57.260 --> 18:00.290 General Eisenhower in the first 18:00.300 --> 18:02.479 infantry division , whose monument I 18:02.489 --> 18:05.560 paid my respects at this morning , 18:07.020 --> 18:09.290 home of Fort Riley , Kansas , their 18:09.300 --> 18:12.910 home secretary , Austin , 18:13.489 --> 18:17.380 I thank you for your service in and out 18:17.390 --> 18:20.650 of uniform . General Milley , thank you 18:20.660 --> 18:22.493 for your distinguished career of 18:22.493 --> 18:24.780 service . And congratulations on 18:24.790 --> 18:27.520 receiving France's highest military 18:27.530 --> 18:30.949 honor . The Grand Cross of the Legion 18:30.959 --> 18:34.630 of honor , June 18:34.699 --> 18:37.750 6th , 1944 . 18:38.859 --> 18:40.829 As the sun rose above a European 18:40.839 --> 18:43.839 continent occupied and overrun the free 18:43.849 --> 18:46.989 world stood in anticipation hoping for 18:47.000 --> 18:49.030 a pushback against the shadow of 18:49.040 --> 18:52.910 conquest and tyranny that had endured 18:52.920 --> 18:56.540 for four years . The eyes of the world 18:56.550 --> 18:58.661 were upon the many thousands of young 18:58.661 --> 19:01.219 men now slightly older than they were 19:01.229 --> 19:04.420 then as they waited 19:05.150 --> 19:06.983 ashore amidst reigning gunfire , 19:06.983 --> 19:09.979 artillery blasts to liberate a people 19:09.989 --> 19:13.119 they did not know in a foreign land 19:13.209 --> 19:16.979 far far from home . This great 19:17.209 --> 19:19.630 crusade marked the beginning of the end 19:20.020 --> 19:22.619 of the Nazi domination in Europe . The 19:22.630 --> 19:26.060 return of freedom to French soil and 19:26.069 --> 19:28.180 the tide turning in a war to save the 19:28.180 --> 19:31.369 world from tyranny and keep a light , 19:31.390 --> 19:34.979 the flame of liberty gathered here . 19:34.989 --> 19:37.650 Today , we reaffirm the importance of 19:37.660 --> 19:39.939 continued friendship across the 19:39.949 --> 19:42.800 Atlantic Ocean . Our shared bonds of 19:42.810 --> 19:44.921 Republican governance , commitment to 19:44.921 --> 19:47.599 self determination and a united resolve 19:47.609 --> 19:51.180 in the face of aggression . We 19:51.189 --> 19:53.439 remember the heroic sacrifices made 19:53.449 --> 19:55.459 here at the beach's code named Utah 19:55.959 --> 19:59.459 Omaha Gold Juno and sword . We remember 19:59.469 --> 20:01.413 those who demonstrated bravery and 20:01.413 --> 20:03.589 devotion . We remember with deepest 20:03.599 --> 20:05.710 gratitude , those who gave their last 20:05.710 --> 20:09.599 full measure of devotion . It 20:09.609 --> 20:12.810 is rare . It is rare that young men can 20:12.819 --> 20:15.680 do something that still merits the 20:15.689 --> 20:18.479 expression of gratitude and respect . 20:18.930 --> 20:21.439 Nearly 80 years later , 20:23.790 --> 20:26.829 there were 9386 young American soldiers 20:26.839 --> 20:30.640 buried here 1557 listed on the 20:30.650 --> 20:34.550 wall of missing . These men grew up in 20:34.560 --> 20:36.782 our cities of the east , our industrial 20:36.782 --> 20:39.004 towns of the Midwest , our farms on the 20:39.004 --> 20:41.171 prairie on the ranches out west , they 20:41.171 --> 20:43.171 answered the call to serve with one 20:43.171 --> 20:45.060 heart , one spirit and with every 20:45.060 --> 20:48.079 intention of returning home . Once the 20:48.089 --> 20:50.560 war was won to the people , they love 20:52.040 --> 20:54.680 this patch of earth . Here at Normandy 20:54.689 --> 20:56.911 holds a place in the hearts of families 20:56.911 --> 21:00.079 across the United States . Generations 21:00.089 --> 21:02.479 of Americans have grown up with only 21:02.729 --> 21:04.896 only the stories and photographs of an 21:04.896 --> 21:07.689 uncle or a father , a grandfather or a 21:07.699 --> 21:11.140 brother who made the ultimate sacrifice . 21:12.920 --> 21:15.319 Each loss represented here by a white 21:15.329 --> 21:18.260 marble cross or a star of David is a 21:18.270 --> 21:21.000 loss that a family has born for 79 21:21.010 --> 21:25.000 years D day remains 21:25.010 --> 21:27.232 the largest and most ambitious military 21:27.232 --> 21:29.569 operation in modern history and it was 21:29.579 --> 21:31.329 planned and executed under the 21:31.339 --> 21:34.020 leadership of a boy from a Kansas . 21:36.959 --> 21:39.689 We also , we also having paid our 21:39.699 --> 21:43.430 respects , have another responsibility 21:44.119 --> 21:46.640 that our lives and our nation's actions 21:46.650 --> 21:48.869 are committed to the ideals for which 21:48.880 --> 21:51.989 those we so greatly respect served and 21:52.000 --> 21:55.189 died on the chapel . Here , 21:56.420 --> 21:59.900 these words are engraved , these 21:59.910 --> 22:02.099 endure all and gave all that justice 22:02.109 --> 22:04.359 among nations might prevail and that 22:05.400 --> 22:08.150 mankind might enjoy freedom and inherit 22:08.160 --> 22:10.979 peace , our responsibilities as 22:10.989 --> 22:13.045 citizens , certainly citizens of the 22:13.045 --> 22:15.300 United States and perhaps citizens of 22:15.310 --> 22:17.479 the world is not only to pay honor and 22:17.489 --> 22:20.469 respect , but then to live our lives in 22:20.479 --> 22:23.680 a way that utilize what was 22:23.689 --> 22:26.319 accomplished here for the betterment of 22:26.329 --> 22:30.130 the world . 1954 President 22:30.140 --> 22:32.362 Dwight Eisenhower issued a statement on 22:32.362 --> 22:34.362 the 10 th anniversary of the allied 22:34.362 --> 22:36.584 expeditionary force landing at Normandy 22:37.040 --> 22:39.262 in it . He reflected how the success of 22:39.262 --> 22:42.189 the operation was only possible due to 22:42.199 --> 22:44.979 unity and cooperation of several 22:44.989 --> 22:47.949 nations . The partnerships between 22:47.959 --> 22:49.737 nations solidified here on this 22:49.737 --> 22:51.848 battlefield must continue today as we 22:51.848 --> 22:53.792 strive to create a freer and safer 22:53.792 --> 22:56.680 world . Since the guns of war fell 22:56.689 --> 22:59.569 silent . In 1945 the Atlantic Alliance 22:59.760 --> 23:01.816 has marshaled our combined resources 23:01.816 --> 23:04.599 efforts and spirits of our citizenry to 23:04.609 --> 23:06.609 make certain that the world remains 23:06.609 --> 23:08.553 safe for freedom , democracy and a 23:08.553 --> 23:12.089 shared prosperity . As a leader of the 23:12.099 --> 23:14.321 Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs in 23:14.321 --> 23:16.540 the United States Senate , I regularly 23:16.550 --> 23:18.661 meet with veterans both in Washington 23:18.661 --> 23:20.839 DC and across the country . During 23:20.849 --> 23:22.905 military service , our veterans were 23:22.905 --> 23:24.905 prepared to give everything for our 23:24.905 --> 23:27.589 country . Those of us working on their 23:27.599 --> 23:31.109 behalf must match that level of 23:31.119 --> 23:34.739 commitment . A week ago , Americans 23:34.890 --> 23:36.680 observed Memorial Day where we 23:36.689 --> 23:38.689 remembered all those who gave their 23:38.689 --> 23:40.750 lives in service of our military and 23:40.760 --> 23:42.939 our country . And today we reflect on 23:42.949 --> 23:45.599 what American British and allied 23:45.609 --> 23:47.949 personnel dared to accomplish through 23:47.959 --> 23:50.969 their sacrifices and achieved on behalf 23:50.979 --> 23:54.709 of all mankind . It is my hope that 23:55.130 --> 23:57.349 people from every nation can show the 23:57.359 --> 23:59.920 same resolve , the same stalwart 23:59.930 --> 24:03.089 defiance . Any place tyranny seeks to 24:03.099 --> 24:06.119 gain foothold , courage , 24:06.319 --> 24:09.760 ingenuity , tenacity , sacrifice . 24:10.689 --> 24:13.589 Let us all find that that's a worthy 24:13.599 --> 24:16.479 purpose where we can not only apply 24:16.489 --> 24:20.020 these virtues but where today 24:20.719 --> 24:23.010 we remember and honor those who greatly 24:23.020 --> 24:26.770 exemplified them . On this day , 79 24:26.780 --> 24:30.560 years ago , my father is a 24:30.569 --> 24:33.229 World War Two veteran and I wandered to 24:33.239 --> 24:35.989 the World War II Memorial in Washington 24:36.000 --> 24:38.579 DC on the Nation's Mall . Just a few 24:38.589 --> 24:42.540 days before we dedicated the World 24:42.550 --> 24:45.150 War II Memorial . Long time in coming , 24:46.979 --> 24:48.750 I found the Kansas pillar 24:50.459 --> 24:52.515 representing those who serve from my 24:52.515 --> 24:56.319 home state . Took us two 24:56.329 --> 24:59.780 steps a few steps from that pillar to 24:59.790 --> 25:02.229 call my dad back home in Kansas . 25:04.280 --> 25:06.336 Fortunately , I got the voice mail , 25:06.336 --> 25:08.949 got the answering machine because what 25:08.959 --> 25:11.070 I told my dad , I'd never said before 25:11.070 --> 25:13.181 and probably would never , never have 25:13.181 --> 25:15.920 said in any other circumstances . But I 25:15.930 --> 25:18.000 said Dad . I'm at the World War Two 25:18.010 --> 25:20.459 Memorial built in your honor . 25:21.819 --> 25:23.819 And dad , I want you to know that I 25:23.819 --> 25:27.479 respect you . Dad . I thank you for 25:27.489 --> 25:30.569 your service and dad , I love you . 25:32.829 --> 25:35.560 That's what places like this today 25:35.569 --> 25:38.000 allow us to do cause us to do . 25:40.150 --> 25:42.094 I was walking back to my office on 25:42.094 --> 25:44.849 Capitol Hill and my phone rang , it was 25:44.859 --> 25:48.839 my dad and he said , Gerald , you 25:48.849 --> 25:51.560 left me a message . I couldn't 25:51.569 --> 25:53.680 understand it . Would you repeat it ? 25:57.449 --> 25:59.849 My dad knows no longer living and I 25:59.859 --> 26:02.760 can't repeat it to him today or any 26:02.770 --> 26:06.099 other day . But here 26:06.109 --> 26:09.079 today , we can say it to all who served 26:10.500 --> 26:12.000 to the greatest generation 26:14.939 --> 26:17.250 to those here today and those who have 26:17.260 --> 26:20.339 passed to those who serve us in the 26:20.349 --> 26:23.000 future . We say 26:24.699 --> 26:27.939 we respect you . We thank you for your 26:27.949 --> 26:30.109 service and we love you . 26:46.619 --> 26:49.680 Thank you . Me see , Senator Moran . I 26:49.689 --> 26:52.550 introduced army General Mark Milley us , 26:52.560 --> 26:54.782 chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . 27:10.400 --> 27:12.770 Thanks Scott for uh that introduction 27:12.780 --> 27:16.430 and , and for Mr Floyd . 27:16.890 --> 27:18.900 Thank you and all those that you 27:18.910 --> 27:22.630 represent uh today and , and every day 27:22.949 --> 27:25.630 it is you and your generation who have 27:25.640 --> 27:28.640 given us the freedoms that we enjoy . 27:29.670 --> 27:32.119 Secretary Austin United States 27:32.130 --> 27:34.186 Secretary of Defense . Thank you for 27:34.186 --> 27:36.519 your leadership in troubled times today . 27:38.750 --> 27:41.150 And Ambassador Bauer , thank you as 27:41.160 --> 27:43.216 well to be a great representative of 27:43.216 --> 27:45.160 the United States here in France . 27:45.160 --> 27:47.359 Senator Moran . Thank you for your 27:47.369 --> 27:49.313 leadership on all the committees . 27:49.313 --> 27:51.536 Thank you for your continued support to 27:51.536 --> 27:53.702 the United States military . And thank 27:53.702 --> 27:55.758 you , Senator Nelson for leading our 27:55.758 --> 27:59.239 aerospace administration at NASA , but 27:59.250 --> 28:01.472 also being a great veteran yourself and 28:01.472 --> 28:03.819 also an astronaut . So Senator Nelson , 28:03.829 --> 28:07.760 thank you , Prefect . Thank you all 28:07.770 --> 28:10.310 the generals and admirals that are here 28:10.319 --> 28:12.263 and all the distinguished guests . 28:12.263 --> 28:13.199 Thank you all . 28:33.089 --> 28:36.280 I thank everyone here for gathering 28:36.290 --> 28:38.920 today to commemorate one of the most 28:38.930 --> 28:41.229 important military campaigns in history 28:41.719 --> 28:45.369 on their 79 th anniversary of D day . 28:46.219 --> 28:49.770 And most of all we thank these men and 28:49.780 --> 28:52.680 women to my right , the veterans of 28:52.689 --> 28:55.439 World War II . Thank you to each of you 28:55.449 --> 28:57.699 for your service and your sacrifice . 29:04.750 --> 29:07.989 Today . Today we honor 29:08.760 --> 29:11.989 more than 150,000 29:12.400 --> 29:15.400 allied soldiers who stormed the beaches 29:15.410 --> 29:18.310 of Normandy 79 years ago . It's a day 29:18.319 --> 29:21.209 of profound significance in the history 29:21.219 --> 29:23.163 of the world for it was a day that 29:23.163 --> 29:25.959 began the liberation of France from 29:26.339 --> 29:29.959 Nazi tyranny . Allied forces prepared 29:29.969 --> 29:32.080 for the invasion for two full years . 29:32.080 --> 29:35.420 The scale and scope of this operation 29:35.430 --> 29:39.180 was enormous . Last night began 29:39.189 --> 29:43.020 24,000 allied paratroopers in glider 29:43.030 --> 29:45.550 infantry drifting into the darkness 29:45.560 --> 29:48.969 just after midnight on the morning of 29:48.979 --> 29:52.800 six June 1944 as dawn 29:52.810 --> 29:56.010 broke , 6000 ships 29:56.839 --> 29:58.617 carried soldiers to the assault 29:58.617 --> 30:01.869 landings on the 50 mile wide , beached 30:03.380 --> 30:06.589 Utah , Omaha , gold Juno sword . 30:07.189 --> 30:09.869 Their names forever etched in our 30:09.880 --> 30:13.140 memories . These brave men crawled inch 30:13.349 --> 30:16.209 by bloody inch across mine riddled 30:16.219 --> 30:19.969 beaches on the hail of German bullets . 30:20.489 --> 30:23.550 They were ordinary soldiers that they 30:23.560 --> 30:26.959 are exceptional in every way . Like 30:26.969 --> 30:30.560 first Lieutenant Danny Thompson who 30:30.569 --> 30:33.000 flew 11 B 24 missions as part of the 30:33.010 --> 30:35.390 eighth air force , executing the pre 30:35.400 --> 30:37.849 assault fires in one of his last 30:37.859 --> 30:39.859 missions . Just prior to Normandy's 30:39.859 --> 30:43.729 assault , his plane took 500 30:43.739 --> 30:47.280 bullets and pieces of shrapnel . 10 of 30:47.290 --> 30:49.839 which punctuated his body . 30:51.599 --> 30:55.349 Danny is with us today 30:55.650 --> 30:57.989 with multiple purple hearts . Thank you , 30:58.000 --> 30:59.000 Danny . 31:06.510 --> 31:10.380 Ordinary soldiers but exceptional 31:12.369 --> 31:16.239 is Sergeant Salty Harris of the famous 31:16.319 --> 31:19.319 Echo Company second battalion five oh 31:19.329 --> 31:21.670 six parachute infantry regiment . The 31:21.680 --> 31:24.260 band of brothers who had been recently 31:24.270 --> 31:26.949 assigned to the pathfinder of 101st 31:26.959 --> 31:30.270 airborne division . He exited 31:30.329 --> 31:32.750 ach 47 aircraft 31:34.699 --> 31:38.359 16 minutes after midnight this 31:38.369 --> 31:42.310 morning to begin the airborne 31:42.319 --> 31:45.540 assault . He was killed in action 31:46.400 --> 31:48.849 on 18 June 1944 and 31:50.530 --> 31:52.474 the primary objective of the 101st 31:52.474 --> 31:56.459 airborne division . But he too is 31:56.469 --> 32:00.339 with us today . Buried on these 32:00.349 --> 32:03.920 hallowed grounds , an ordinary soldier 32:05.869 --> 32:09.359 but exceptional in every way . And 32:09.369 --> 32:11.630 staff Sergeant George Miller Charlie 32:11.640 --> 32:14.589 Company 327 glider infantry regiment 32:14.880 --> 32:16.991 landed behind the beaches of Utah and 32:17.300 --> 32:21.069 fought his way to . He 32:21.079 --> 32:23.500 later jumped into Market Garden , 32:23.510 --> 32:25.732 fought in the battle of balls and ended 32:25.732 --> 32:27.843 the war by capturing Hitler's Eagle's 32:27.843 --> 32:31.189 Nest . He survived the war and is with 32:31.199 --> 32:34.670 us today . Exceptional soldiers in 32:34.680 --> 32:38.540 every single way men like Sergeant 32:38.550 --> 32:41.530 Charles Shea , a combat medic with the 32:41.540 --> 32:44.089 second battalion , 16th infantry 32:44.099 --> 32:46.432 regiment of the first infantry division . 32:46.432 --> 32:49.510 The famous big red one who landed in 32:49.520 --> 32:52.339 the first wave . He rescued drowning 32:52.349 --> 32:54.640 wounded comrades under fire and 32:54.650 --> 32:56.483 received the silver star for his 32:56.483 --> 33:00.479 bravery at Normandy . And he continued 33:00.489 --> 33:03.390 fighting at AEN the Huke Forest , the 33:03.439 --> 33:05.829 Dens crossing the Rhine and into 33:05.839 --> 33:09.280 Germany . He received four bronze 33:09.290 --> 33:12.010 battle stars on his campaign ribbons . 33:12.819 --> 33:14.708 And then again , he fought in the 33:14.708 --> 33:16.839 Korean War before retiring in 33:16.849 --> 33:20.839 1964 as a master sergeant in the 33:20.849 --> 33:24.510 United States army . He too is with 33:24.520 --> 33:28.260 us today . From the bombings and the 33:28.270 --> 33:30.900 preparatory fires to the night time air 33:30.910 --> 33:32.799 assault to the morning amphibious 33:32.799 --> 33:35.300 landings . They were ordinary soldiers 33:36.680 --> 33:38.847 but they were exceptional human beings 33:40.089 --> 33:42.200 and let us never forget the brave men 33:42.200 --> 33:44.530 and women of the French resistance who 33:44.540 --> 33:47.109 fought alongside the British Special 33:47.119 --> 33:49.430 Operations executive and the American 33:49.439 --> 33:52.800 Oss jet teams who set the conditions 33:52.810 --> 33:54.780 behind the lines for the assault 33:54.790 --> 33:58.030 landings on D day . And on the other 33:58.040 --> 34:01.020 side of the world , there was Sergeant 34:01.030 --> 34:03.989 William Latrell of the Fourth Marine 34:04.000 --> 34:06.349 Division who had already survived the 34:06.359 --> 34:08.692 battle of Roy Naor against the Japanese . 34:09.080 --> 34:12.358 And now while the army was landing at 34:12.368 --> 34:15.029 Normandy , the marines were hitting the 34:15.039 --> 34:17.638 beach at SaiPan in June of 34:17.829 --> 34:20.929 1944 Latrell 34:21.300 --> 34:24.419 later served at Tinian and Iwo Jima . 34:25.239 --> 34:28.090 He too is with us today 34:29.629 --> 34:31.518 and the millions of others on the 34:31.518 --> 34:34.218 eastern front . China , Burma , India 34:34.229 --> 34:36.269 theater in the Middle East in Italy 34:36.418 --> 34:39.198 where Rome was liberated just two days 34:39.208 --> 34:42.549 prior to the landings at Normandy . All 34:42.559 --> 34:44.503 of these soldiers sail as airmen , 34:44.503 --> 34:46.718 marines , all were ordinary men and 34:46.729 --> 34:50.708 women , but everyone was exceptional 34:50.718 --> 34:53.208 in their courage as they displayed acts 34:53.218 --> 34:55.107 of bravery in the face of intense 34:55.107 --> 34:57.239 violence in a global war against 34:57.249 --> 35:00.540 tyranny . In this cemetery 35:01.629 --> 35:05.239 lies over 4 9000 American 35:05.250 --> 35:08.750 souls who gave the last full measure of 35:08.760 --> 35:11.780 devotion during that summer of 35:11.790 --> 35:15.790 1944 . It is in this cemetery 35:16.219 --> 35:18.275 that we bear witness to the daunting 35:18.275 --> 35:20.810 threats to freedom and the cost 35:20.820 --> 35:24.239 required to remain free . These 35:24.250 --> 35:27.889 Americans and so many others sacrificed 35:28.540 --> 35:30.762 and gave their lives in the crucible of 35:30.762 --> 35:32.949 combat thousands of miles from the 35:32.959 --> 35:35.070 birthplace . They gave their lives so 35:35.070 --> 35:37.181 that others who they didn't even know 35:37.530 --> 35:39.969 would remain free . They gave their 35:39.979 --> 35:43.320 lives for us so that you and I would 35:43.330 --> 35:47.179 live free . Peace and freedom are 35:47.189 --> 35:50.489 never guaranteed . They must be guarded 35:50.500 --> 35:53.449 and cherished and sometimes fought for 35:54.070 --> 35:57.040 and paid in blood . There are so 35:57.050 --> 35:59.161 precious few remaining today from the 35:59.161 --> 36:01.328 greatest generation who fought to keep 36:01.328 --> 36:03.106 the world free from tyranny and 36:03.106 --> 36:05.217 dictatorship . They fought in a great 36:05.217 --> 36:07.800 power war across multiple continents 36:08.830 --> 36:12.370 costing millions of lives and they 36:12.379 --> 36:15.879 fought to establish a better 36:15.889 --> 36:19.429 peace so that all of us will remain 36:19.439 --> 36:23.229 free . We are now approaching 36:23.239 --> 36:26.610 the 80th year of the great power of 36:26.620 --> 36:29.179 peace that they fought to establish 36:30.709 --> 36:32.931 a few years ago , I talked to a veteran 36:33.320 --> 36:37.129 of the 82nd airborne division . He like 36:37.139 --> 36:39.306 these veterans was in a wheelchair and 36:39.306 --> 36:42.629 he had parachuted into the beaches here 36:42.639 --> 36:45.679 at Normandy . I asked him 36:46.520 --> 36:48.687 what his biggest lesson was from World 36:48.687 --> 36:50.853 War II . And I expected him to give me 36:50.853 --> 36:53.489 some sort of tactical answer on fire 36:53.500 --> 36:57.310 and movement . He did not , his 36:57.320 --> 37:00.429 eyes teared up and he looked at me from 37:00.439 --> 37:02.606 his wheelchair and he said , General , 37:03.479 --> 37:05.949 never let it happen again , 37:08.129 --> 37:10.760 never let it happen again . 37:12.000 --> 37:15.719 So here we are on Omaha Beach at the 37:15.729 --> 37:19.719 cemetery at we 37:19.729 --> 37:22.780 can never bring back the fallen . We 37:22.790 --> 37:25.260 must always honor them and remember 37:25.270 --> 37:27.437 their sacrifice and we honor them best 37:28.280 --> 37:30.729 by defending the idea that is America 37:31.419 --> 37:34.570 and upholding the cause for which they 37:34.580 --> 37:38.500 died . Now , it is up to us the living 37:38.929 --> 37:41.096 to ensure that these exceptional men , 37:41.310 --> 37:44.939 women who fell on these sands did 37:44.949 --> 37:48.560 not die in vain . We have a 37:48.570 --> 37:51.570 duty , each of us , the living has a 37:51.580 --> 37:54.270 duty . We have a duty to carry forward 37:54.280 --> 37:56.629 this experiment in democracy so that 37:56.639 --> 37:58.861 each generation may enjoy the blessings 37:59.139 --> 38:01.750 of life , liberty and pursuit of 38:01.760 --> 38:04.500 happiness that these veterans have 38:04.510 --> 38:06.889 given to us as their greatest gift . 38:07.560 --> 38:09.810 May God bless our fallen and their 38:09.820 --> 38:12.100 families and may God bless each and 38:12.110 --> 38:14.280 every one of you and on behalf of the 38:14.729 --> 38:18.340 2.1 million American soldiers , sailors , 38:18.610 --> 38:20.929 airmen , marines and guardians . I 38:20.939 --> 38:21.939 salute you . 38:39.989 --> 38:42.510 Thank you mercy , General Milli I now 38:42.520 --> 38:45.949 introduce the of representing the 38:45.959 --> 38:49.250 French Republic , represent 38:49.959 --> 38:50.959 France , 39:45.320 --> 39:45.689 Madam 39:49.919 --> 39:53.689 American Mad I 39:53.699 --> 39:54.699 miss you . 40:06.810 --> 40:07.810 She said 40:13.510 --> 40:15.969 Utah ju gold 40:49.729 --> 40:50.729 it only 41:44.790 --> 41:45.790 and 41:52.330 --> 41:53.719 so some of these upgrade 41:59.489 --> 42:00.350 democracy , 42:31.110 --> 42:32.277 President Eisenhower 43:18.350 --> 43:19.350 in 44:03.969 --> 44:04.969 to me , 44:19.510 --> 44:22.070 thank you . I now introduce the US 44:22.080 --> 44:24.191 ambassador to the French Republic and 44:24.191 --> 44:26.399 to the Principality of Monaco . The 44:26.409 --> 44:29.020 honorable Denise Campbell Bauer , 44:38.179 --> 44:39.846 Madam Denise Campbell Bauer , 44:52.280 --> 44:55.780 dear veterans to all the veterans here . 44:55.790 --> 44:58.300 Today , we are deeply honored by your 44:58.310 --> 45:01.179 presence . The world owes you and your 45:01.189 --> 45:03.989 entire generation . A debt of gratitude 45:04.000 --> 45:07.570 for your service . We will never 45:07.580 --> 45:11.429 forget we stand together today . 45:11.439 --> 45:14.330 79 years after the Great Allied 45:14.340 --> 45:16.979 endeavor began on these beaches to 45:16.989 --> 45:20.830 liberate France and all of Europe from 45:20.840 --> 45:24.780 the scourge of Nazi occupation on that 45:24.790 --> 45:27.909 faithful morning as news of the allied 45:27.919 --> 45:30.729 invasion filtered into the White House . 45:30.780 --> 45:33.080 President Roosevelt addressed the 45:33.090 --> 45:36.709 American people in prayer , commending 45:36.719 --> 45:39.409 America's sons in their struggle to 45:39.419 --> 45:42.850 preserve our freedoms and set 45:42.860 --> 45:46.000 free a suffering humanity 45:47.419 --> 45:50.949 lead them straight and true . He said , 45:51.810 --> 45:55.620 give strength to their arms stoutness 45:55.629 --> 45:59.550 to their hearts , steadfastness in 45:59.560 --> 46:03.389 their faith and in homes across 46:03.399 --> 46:07.199 America . Families of many faiths , 46:07.209 --> 46:10.750 prayed together in dozens of 46:10.760 --> 46:14.479 languages , but with a shared gratitude 46:14.489 --> 46:18.310 for the sacrifices of our soldiers and 46:18.320 --> 46:21.709 a belief in the collective goodness of 46:21.719 --> 46:24.850 our nation . The 46:24.860 --> 46:27.280 Nazis like all total 46:27.840 --> 46:31.739 regimes believed that they could weaken 46:31.750 --> 46:35.110 the resolve of those they conquered and 46:35.120 --> 46:38.540 fought by dividing by 46:38.550 --> 46:42.489 religion , by ethnic group and so on . 46:44.060 --> 46:46.659 They saw the diversity in the great 46:46.669 --> 46:50.189 cities of Europe and America as a 46:50.199 --> 46:52.280 weakness , not a strength . 46:53.679 --> 46:57.169 America's sons and daughters who landed 46:57.179 --> 47:00.580 in Normandy came from every corner of 47:00.590 --> 47:04.290 our country and from every walk of life , 47:05.409 --> 47:07.790 many were the Children of immigrants . 47:08.300 --> 47:11.209 Some were rich , others poor , 47:12.229 --> 47:16.199 some had college degrees . Many did not 47:17.229 --> 47:20.120 whatever their background . They fought 47:20.129 --> 47:23.810 under one flag and they were the 47:23.820 --> 47:27.479 pride of our nation in 47:27.489 --> 47:30.610 this and other national cemeteries . 47:30.750 --> 47:33.889 America's heroes are buried without 47:33.899 --> 47:37.409 respect to their background or rank , 47:38.550 --> 47:41.010 whether a soldier was a career army 47:41.020 --> 47:44.969 officer or a dairy farmer , an artist 47:44.979 --> 47:48.889 or an auto mechanic , a truck driver or 47:48.899 --> 47:52.820 a teacher . Here , they are all 47:52.830 --> 47:55.739 equal . As you walk through the 47:55.750 --> 47:58.830 cemetery , you see that each man and 47:58.840 --> 48:02.469 woman honored here tells a part of 48:02.479 --> 48:06.459 America's story on the tablets of the 48:06.469 --> 48:10.090 missing technician . Fifth grade Steven 48:10.100 --> 48:13.879 Luu , a son of Ukrainian 48:13.889 --> 48:17.520 immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania 48:17.750 --> 48:21.510 is honored just above private first 48:21.520 --> 48:25.379 class , Herbert Lum , the son of an 48:25.389 --> 48:28.689 African American family from Virginia , 48:29.540 --> 48:32.580 private Francisco El Hernandez of 48:32.590 --> 48:35.810 presidio Texas worked for his brother 48:35.820 --> 48:39.310 as a ranch chat . He is buried behind 48:39.320 --> 48:42.429 technical Sergeant Kenneth H Hall of 48:42.439 --> 48:45.419 Cleveland , Ohio who worked for his 48:45.429 --> 48:47.919 father's construction company while 48:47.929 --> 48:51.239 attending college to the right of 48:51.250 --> 48:53.949 Sergeant Hare rests , Lieutenant 48:53.959 --> 48:57.669 Nicholas Em who fled the Russian 48:57.679 --> 49:00.830 revolution with his parents to find 49:00.840 --> 49:04.659 refuge here in France . He grew 49:04.669 --> 49:08.500 up in Paris and left on the S S 49:08.510 --> 49:12.139 Normandy to immigrate to California . 49:13.040 --> 49:16.149 He returned to his birth country with 49:16.159 --> 49:18.229 the 101st airborne 49:20.649 --> 49:23.469 on nicholas' . Other side is Lieutenant 49:23.479 --> 49:26.600 Harold Caputo from Long Island , New 49:26.610 --> 49:29.520 York , whose grandparents had 49:29.530 --> 49:32.580 immigrated from Italy and England 49:33.939 --> 49:37.300 on June 6th , 1944 . 49:37.449 --> 49:40.959 Lieutenant Capaldo was the pilot of 49:40.969 --> 49:44.580 ac 47 carrying paratroopers 49:44.679 --> 49:48.030 of the 101st airborne easy 49:48.040 --> 49:51.889 company that was shot down , leaving no 49:51.899 --> 49:55.179 survivors from different 49:55.189 --> 49:58.500 states , different occupations , 49:58.540 --> 50:01.929 different backgrounds . These men were 50:01.939 --> 50:05.899 united in a fight to defeat fascism 50:06.040 --> 50:10.020 and restore peace across Europe and 50:10.030 --> 50:13.770 the world . Today . Again , 50:14.060 --> 50:17.889 we see a war of choice in Europe's 50:17.899 --> 50:21.469 East . We see a regime that 50:21.479 --> 50:25.429 seeks to divide and weaken the resolve 50:25.439 --> 50:29.149 of freedom loving nations by promoting 50:29.340 --> 50:33.070 ethnic divisions and inflicting terror 50:33.080 --> 50:36.729 on civilians . We will 50:36.739 --> 50:40.429 stand as long as it takes with the 50:40.439 --> 50:44.300 people of Ukraine as they defend 50:44.310 --> 50:48.300 their sovereignty and way of life . We 50:48.310 --> 50:51.979 will remain resolute in our , for 50:51.989 --> 50:55.489 our democratic values and for a better 50:55.500 --> 50:58.760 world for all our Children 50:58.850 --> 51:01.479 across all nations . 51:02.560 --> 51:06.409 As we honor the sacrifices of those who 51:06.419 --> 51:09.620 fought here . Let us stand 51:09.629 --> 51:13.050 resolute and continue to draw 51:13.060 --> 51:16.639 inspiration from the impassioned plea . 51:16.760 --> 51:20.280 President Roosevelt made on D day 51:21.010 --> 51:24.860 to remain straight and true 51:25.350 --> 51:28.560 and to fight for a more just and 51:28.570 --> 51:31.699 unified world where all 51:31.709 --> 51:35.100 people can live in freedom . 51:36.060 --> 51:37.060 Thank you . 51:49.750 --> 51:52.250 Thank you , Ambassador Ma Madame . 51:54.199 --> 51:56.032 I now introduce the Secretary of 51:56.032 --> 51:58.088 Defense , the honorable Mr Lloyd J . 51:58.090 --> 51:59.979 Austen , the Secretary 52:04.370 --> 52:06.000 Mr Lloyd J Austin . 52:16.540 --> 52:18.651 Well , thank you , sir . It is indeed 52:18.651 --> 52:21.229 an honor to be in France today . 52:22.389 --> 52:24.445 Ladies and gentlemen , distinguished 52:24.445 --> 52:26.899 guest and above all World War Two 52:26.909 --> 52:30.449 veterans here today . I am 52:30.459 --> 52:33.879 absolutely humble to join you at this 52:33.889 --> 52:37.370 hollowed place on this fateful day , 52:39.360 --> 52:42.780 79 years ago , France and much of the 52:42.790 --> 52:45.889 rest of Europe lay beneath the Nazi 52:45.899 --> 52:49.600 boot . The night before operation 52:49.610 --> 52:53.370 overlord Eisenhower met with 52:53.379 --> 52:57.199 troops from the 101st airborne and 52:57.209 --> 53:00.679 some thought he looked nervous but one 53:00.689 --> 53:03.530 soldier called out now , quit worrying . 53:03.540 --> 53:06.540 General , we will take care of this 53:06.550 --> 53:10.090 thing for you . And they 53:10.100 --> 53:13.899 did young men from the United 53:13.909 --> 53:17.899 States , Britain , Australia , Canada , 53:18.120 --> 53:21.719 France and other countries rallied 53:21.729 --> 53:24.300 together . As President Roosevelt said 53:24.500 --> 53:27.989 to set free a suffering 53:28.000 --> 53:31.850 humanity . The largest 53:31.860 --> 53:35.530 armada in history carry 53:35.540 --> 53:37.800 tens of thousands of allied troops to 53:37.810 --> 53:41.679 the gates of Nazi occupied France . 53:43.239 --> 53:46.989 The allied pilots flew low under 53:47.000 --> 53:50.219 relentless German fire . The 53:50.229 --> 53:52.229 paratroopers jumped into the cloudy 53:52.229 --> 53:56.129 skies and improvised when 53:56.139 --> 53:58.320 many of them landed miles from , from 53:58.330 --> 54:02.219 their drop zones . Soldiers weighed 54:02.229 --> 54:06.110 down by gear waded off boats and were 54:06.120 --> 54:08.949 raped by Nazi guns 54:10.270 --> 54:13.100 and the medics dove in to care for the 54:13.110 --> 54:16.709 wounded as the cold waters turn 54:16.719 --> 54:17.179 red . 54:21.719 --> 54:24.659 It's easy to forget how desperate the 54:24.669 --> 54:28.639 battle was , how loud 54:28.649 --> 54:32.510 the clash was and how many things 54:32.520 --> 54:35.929 could have gone wrong , how many 54:35.939 --> 54:38.110 things did go wrong . 54:40.219 --> 54:43.919 But on D day , courage won out over 54:43.929 --> 54:47.209 terror , daring 54:47.550 --> 54:51.520 over cruelty in liberty . One 54:51.530 --> 54:53.209 out over tyranny . 54:57.090 --> 55:00.090 Quit worrying general , we will take 55:00.100 --> 55:03.550 care of this thing for you . You know , 55:03.560 --> 55:05.616 one of the soldiers who took care of 55:05.616 --> 55:07.838 things was First Lieutenant Waverly Ray 55:08.620 --> 55:11.790 known as Charlie of the second 55:11.800 --> 55:14.199 battalion , 5/5 parachute infantry 55:14.209 --> 55:17.129 regiment who were known as the Panthers . 55:18.939 --> 55:21.189 Lieutenant Wray jumped into Normandy 55:22.080 --> 55:25.979 before dawn on D day . His 55:25.989 --> 55:28.211 battalion was on its own until it could 55:28.211 --> 55:31.100 be reinforced by the allied amphibious 55:31.110 --> 55:33.030 forces storming the beaches . 55:35.830 --> 55:39.300 So Ray unit company d face 55:39.310 --> 55:42.649 terrifying odds . German forces 55:42.659 --> 55:45.909 outnumber them by more than 20 to 1 . 55:48.120 --> 55:50.070 But the Nazis didn't count on the 55:50.080 --> 55:53.540 Panthers and they certainly didn't 55:53.550 --> 55:56.979 count on citizen soldiers like Charlie . 55:56.989 --> 56:00.840 Ray . Ray's battalion commander 56:00.850 --> 56:02.739 ordered him to counter attack the 56:02.739 --> 56:06.399 German flank and Ray personally 56:06.409 --> 56:08.576 found and destroyed the German command 56:08.576 --> 56:09.820 post in ST 56:12.870 --> 56:15.037 and it became the first town in France 56:15.037 --> 56:17.037 that the allies liberated from Nazi 56:17.037 --> 56:20.989 occupation . And after the 56:21.000 --> 56:23.090 fighting , Ray returned to report 56:24.790 --> 56:26.929 with part of his ear sliced off by a 56:26.939 --> 56:30.889 German bullet and his own blood caked 56:30.899 --> 56:34.689 on his neck and his shoulder and 56:34.699 --> 56:37.459 race commander said they've been 56:37.469 --> 56:39.636 getting kind of close to you , haven't 56:39.636 --> 56:42.000 they ? Waverly and Lieutenant Ray 56:42.010 --> 56:45.219 Grandon said , not as close as I've 56:45.229 --> 56:46.520 been getting to them . 56:48.959 --> 56:51.520 That's the spirit that took the beaches . 56:53.500 --> 56:55.500 That's the courage that liberated a 56:55.500 --> 56:59.199 continent . And that's the valor 57:00.010 --> 57:02.909 that swung the hinge of fate from 57:02.919 --> 57:04.459 tyranny to freedom 57:09.080 --> 57:11.280 since the days of Ancient Athens . 57:12.419 --> 57:14.520 Historians have known that free 57:14.530 --> 57:17.389 soldiers will fight more bravely than 57:17.399 --> 57:21.290 the armies of tyrants . And the man who 57:21.300 --> 57:24.610 landed here on D Day , did you say ? 57:26.580 --> 57:28.524 And they wrote themselves into the 57:28.524 --> 57:31.560 pages of history as a grand 57:31.570 --> 57:34.679 reputation of Hitler's Bile 57:37.070 --> 57:40.590 in D Day . Reminds us that there is no 57:40.600 --> 57:42.889 force multiplier , stronger than a just 57:42.899 --> 57:46.820 cause the democratic ideals 57:46.830 --> 57:48.774 carried by the troops of operation 57:48.774 --> 57:52.610 overlord still in , inspire 57:52.620 --> 57:54.009 free people everywhere . 57:57.270 --> 58:00.030 And ladies and gentlemen , it was one 58:00.040 --> 58:03.000 of the great honors of my life to serve 58:03.010 --> 58:06.570 some 50 years after D day as the 58:06.580 --> 58:09.060 commander of the second battalion , 5/5 58:09.070 --> 58:12.620 parachute Infantry . In fact , 58:13.879 --> 58:16.159 I jumped into Normandy with elements of 58:16.169 --> 58:19.790 my battalion for the 50th anniversary 58:19.800 --> 58:23.409 of D day with pride . We 58:23.419 --> 58:25.641 shouldered the legacy of liberty passed 58:25.641 --> 58:27.863 down by Charlie Ray and his brothers in 58:27.863 --> 58:31.790 arms and it is all of our duty 58:33.260 --> 58:36.830 to defend with un damned vigor . The 58:36.840 --> 58:39.118 principles for which the allies fought . 58:42.510 --> 58:45.939 We still seek a world where 58:45.949 --> 58:49.610 aggression is a sin where human 58:49.620 --> 58:53.570 rights are sacred , where those 58:53.580 --> 58:57.000 who preach hatred and tyranny and 58:57.010 --> 58:59.929 genocide are cast out . 59:02.110 --> 59:04.110 We seek a world where civilians are 59:04.110 --> 59:08.020 safe from the ravages of war where 59:08.030 --> 59:10.780 sovereignty and territorial integrity 59:11.479 --> 59:15.320 are respected and we seek a 59:15.330 --> 59:19.000 world where all states and all peoples 59:19.010 --> 59:21.010 can pursue their own destinies and 59:21.020 --> 59:22.020 freedom . 59:24.899 --> 59:26.899 Ladies and gentlemen , that today's 59:26.899 --> 59:29.689 open world of rules and rights 59:31.139 --> 59:33.361 was built on the shoulders of those who 59:33.361 --> 59:36.979 took the beaches , code name , Utah 59:38.209 --> 59:41.030 Omaha , gold , 59:41.540 --> 59:44.090 Juno and sword . 59:47.000 --> 59:49.520 Today's rules based international order 59:49.530 --> 59:51.820 is the legacy of those who won the 59:51.830 --> 59:53.610 bloodiest war in history . 59:56.189 --> 59:59.270 And it is our task to carry forward 59:59.469 --> 01:00:03.409 their mighty work . For most 01:00:03.419 --> 01:00:05.308 of us , the demands of democratic 01:00:05.308 --> 01:00:07.449 citizenship are far less stern than 01:00:07.459 --> 01:00:09.370 they were in 1944 . 01:00:11.489 --> 01:00:13.800 But we must meet today's challenges 01:00:14.389 --> 01:00:17.870 with our full strength soldier and 01:00:17.879 --> 01:00:21.560 civilian alike . If the 01:00:21.570 --> 01:00:24.020 troops of the world's democracy could 01:00:24.030 --> 01:00:26.030 risk their lives for freedom , then 01:00:27.250 --> 01:00:29.889 surely the citizens of the world's 01:00:29.899 --> 01:00:33.780 democracy can risk our comfort for 01:00:33.790 --> 01:00:37.729 freedom now . And 01:00:37.739 --> 01:00:40.370 some of our friends no longer have that 01:00:40.379 --> 01:00:44.300 choice . On a 01:00:44.310 --> 01:00:46.770 recent trip to a US training post in a 01:00:46.780 --> 01:00:50.139 free Germany . I met brave young men 01:00:50.149 --> 01:00:53.169 and women and women from Ukraine who 01:00:53.179 --> 01:00:55.179 are learning how to fight for their 01:00:55.179 --> 01:00:58.699 lives and for their country . And 01:00:58.709 --> 01:01:01.260 today , I am more determined than ever 01:01:01.979 --> 01:01:05.399 to stand by them . For as long as it 01:01:05.409 --> 01:01:08.979 takes in our 01:01:08.989 --> 01:01:12.350 unsettled times . We are again , we 01:01:12.360 --> 01:01:15.939 again hear some sneer that tyranny is 01:01:15.949 --> 01:01:19.919 the future and that people long 01:01:19.929 --> 01:01:23.340 for strongly and ruled and that the 01:01:23.350 --> 01:01:26.010 unit unity of free people will shatter 01:01:27.620 --> 01:01:29.850 and that the hour of democracy has 01:01:29.860 --> 01:01:33.590 passed , they are wrong . 01:01:35.409 --> 01:01:39.110 And every d day citizen by citizen , 01:01:39.929 --> 01:01:42.580 we remember that we each have the 01:01:42.590 --> 01:01:46.570 ability and the responsibility to 01:01:46.580 --> 01:01:48.860 fight for the principles that drove the 01:01:48.870 --> 01:01:50.520 allied armies forward . 01:01:53.649 --> 01:01:56.500 79 years ago , General Eisenhower told 01:01:56.510 --> 01:01:58.510 the soldiers , sailors , airmen and 01:01:58.510 --> 01:02:01.280 marines of the allied expeditionary 01:02:01.290 --> 01:02:05.129 force . The eyes of the world are 01:02:05.139 --> 01:02:08.709 upon you . The hopes and prayers of 01:02:08.719 --> 01:02:10.775 liberty , loving people everywhere . 01:02:10.775 --> 01:02:11.969 March with you . 01:02:15.909 --> 01:02:18.500 The eyes of the world are still upon 01:02:18.510 --> 01:02:22.389 the heroes of D DAY . They are 01:02:22.399 --> 01:02:26.250 upon us as well and we will 01:02:26.260 --> 01:02:29.909 not let the torch of freedom go out 01:02:33.760 --> 01:02:37.260 every time a veteran of D day is 01:02:37.270 --> 01:02:41.159 gathered to his maker in the fullness 01:02:41.169 --> 01:02:44.120 of time . After a long life of lived 01:02:44.129 --> 01:02:47.689 and freedom , he wins a final victory 01:02:47.699 --> 01:02:51.350 over Hitler to the 01:02:51.360 --> 01:02:54.129 veterans of World War II , we salute 01:02:54.139 --> 01:02:57.610 you . You save the world . 01:02:58.719 --> 01:03:01.139 We must merely defend it . 01:03:02.790 --> 01:03:04.750 So may God bless the American and 01:03:04.760 --> 01:03:06.760 allied troops who fought and failed 01:03:06.760 --> 01:03:10.639 some 79 years ago . May God 01:03:10.649 --> 01:03:12.705 bless the United States of America ? 01:03:13.899 --> 01:03:16.689 And may God continue to bless all those 01:03:16.699 --> 01:03:19.360 who still fight for freedom ? Thank you 01:03:19.370 --> 01:03:20.370 very much . 01:03:34.929 --> 01:03:36.651 Thank you . We'll see you , Mr 01:03:36.651 --> 01:03:39.070 Secretary . The benediction will be 01:03:39.080 --> 01:03:42.199 given by us . Army chaplain Bert Snyder 01:03:42.729 --> 01:03:45.639 forged by the blood of America's 01:03:45.649 --> 01:03:49.050 daughters and sons and take with you 01:03:49.060 --> 01:03:52.540 the torch of freedom , shining light 01:03:53.169 --> 01:03:56.879 and hope and liberty into the darkness 01:03:56.889 --> 01:03:58.939 of injustice . Amen . 01:04:04.860 --> 01:04:06.760 Thank you chaplain . We shall now 01:04:06.770 --> 01:04:08.770 conduct the wreath ceremony as your 01:04:08.770 --> 01:04:10.992 name is called . Please move forward to 01:04:10.992 --> 01:04:12.826 accept your wreath as it will be 01:04:12.826 --> 01:04:14.770 provided to you by a member of the 01:04:14.770 --> 01:04:16.992 cemetery staff after which you can move 01:04:16.992 --> 01:04:19.159 forward and lay a wreath on the wreath 01:04:19.159 --> 01:04:19.090 stand . 01:04:38.989 --> 01:04:41.139 Ambassador , ambassador is Denise 01:04:41.149 --> 01:04:43.540 Campbell Bauer represent Deni 01:04:52.550 --> 01:04:53.550 you , 01:05:27.820 --> 01:05:27.989 Mr 01:05:33.209 --> 01:05:35.409 the Republic Fran representing the 01:05:35.419 --> 01:05:38.030 French Republic . Mr Guilla 01:06:21.739 --> 01:06:25.340 US , Secretary of Defense Secretary 01:06:25.350 --> 01:06:27.128 Lloyd J Austin representing the 01:06:27.128 --> 01:06:31.060 Department of Defense . Let they 01:06:31.070 --> 01:06:33.260 let they found it . You need 01:06:35.260 --> 01:06:36.750 Lloyd J . Austin . 01:07:09.229 --> 01:07:12.159 Senator Gerald W Moran representing the 01:07:12.169 --> 01:07:13.891 State of Kansas and the Senate 01:07:13.891 --> 01:07:15.669 Committee on Veterans Affairs , 01:07:47.899 --> 01:07:50.070 Senator Bill Nelson representing the 01:07:50.080 --> 01:07:51.909 National Aeronautics and Space 01:07:51.919 --> 01:07:54.129 Administration . NASA 01:08:24.339 --> 01:08:27.140 Madam Natalie , Miss Natalie Port 01:08:29.700 --> 01:08:32.100 D representing the Normandy region . 01:09:02.229 --> 01:09:03.520 Madam Patricia 01:09:07.759 --> 01:09:09.981 Calvados representing the Department of 01:09:09.981 --> 01:09:11.759 Calvados , Patricia Gay Duque , 01:09:38.289 --> 01:09:40.599 Mr Patrick to representing the 01:09:42.619 --> 01:09:44.588 intercom representing the 01:09:47.349 --> 01:09:48.571 intercom , Mr Patrick 01:10:17.819 --> 01:10:19.689 US Army General , Mark Milley , 01:10:20.279 --> 01:10:22.223 representing the chairman of joint 01:10:22.223 --> 01:10:23.223 Chief of Staff 01:11:10.689 --> 01:11:13.290 US . Army Chief of Staff General James 01:11:13.299 --> 01:11:15.589 C mcconville represent , representing 01:11:15.600 --> 01:11:16.878 the United States Army 01:11:19.569 --> 01:11:20.740 General James C M 01:11:54.339 --> 01:11:56.589 US . Army General Christopher G Cavalli 01:11:57.410 --> 01:11:59.632 representing the United States European 01:11:59.632 --> 01:12:03.620 Command General 01:12:03.649 --> 01:12:04.649 Christopher 01:12:43.220 --> 01:12:45.649 US , Marine General Michael E Langley , 01:12:45.660 --> 01:12:47.771 representing the United States Africa 01:12:47.771 --> 01:12:48.771 Command represent 01:12:51.979 --> 01:12:53.319 Michael E Langley 01:13:38.000 --> 01:13:40.240 US . Army Lieutenant General John D 01:13:40.250 --> 01:13:42.417 Lemon , representing the United States 01:13:42.417 --> 01:13:44.083 Air Force , Europe and Africa 01:14:24.859 --> 01:14:27.529 Brigadier General Defense 01:14:28.149 --> 01:14:30.709 representing the Embassy of Germany 01:14:35.890 --> 01:14:37.180 attached defense 01:15:19.770 --> 01:15:21.450 representing the best defense 01:15:21.459 --> 01:15:23.450 foundation , the organization 01:15:23.459 --> 01:15:26.060 responsible for returning our veterans 01:15:26.069 --> 01:15:29.279 to France . Mr Donnie Edwards , 01:15:29.290 --> 01:15:30.957 representing the Best Defense 01:15:30.957 --> 01:15:34.609 Foundation , Mr Alexis Garson , 01:15:35.049 --> 01:15:37.240 representing Michelin USA 01:15:38.700 --> 01:15:41.209 Mister Bob Summers representing Delta 01:15:41.220 --> 01:15:42.009 Airlines , 01:16:28.270 --> 01:16:30.103 representing the American Battle 01:16:30.103 --> 01:16:32.326 Monuments Commission . Mr Edward Ryan . 01:17:49.569 --> 01:17:52.899 You have to 01:17:56.109 --> 01:17:58.399 what you gave to 01:18:01.200 --> 01:18:04.509 one shining dream of 01:18:10.169 --> 01:18:10.910 13 01:18:17.379 --> 01:18:20.770 I know soldiers for your car 01:18:31.700 --> 01:18:33.089 here , you know 01:18:38.189 --> 01:18:39.660 in fields of stuff 01:18:42.359 --> 01:18:44.930 is rose . 01:18:47.549 --> 01:18:50.669 These young men who 01:18:50.680 --> 01:18:54.100 died was 01:18:58.859 --> 01:19:00.109 is we 01:19:04.549 --> 01:19:08.339 and the first I won you 01:19:08.350 --> 01:19:09.859 see we got 01:19:17.680 --> 01:19:21.250 went on is for 01:19:42.100 --> 01:19:45.220 yeah , I to 01:19:54.640 --> 01:19:55.540 I wish . 01:20:01.529 --> 01:20:02.529 Oh , 01:20:06.810 --> 01:20:09.049 you shine . I 01:20:13.040 --> 01:20:16.299 Oh mhm . 01:20:18.040 --> 01:20:19.040 Thank you 01:20:23.509 --> 01:20:27.189 and our brothers and one . You 01:20:27.279 --> 01:20:28.310 see we 01:20:43.439 --> 01:20:44.439 Oh , 01:21:09.339 --> 01:21:11.740 thank you ladies for freedom . Ladies 01:21:11.750 --> 01:21:13.649 and gentlemen , please rise as we 01:21:13.799 --> 01:21:16.049 render honors to the World War Two 01:21:16.060 --> 01:21:18.299 survivors who are with us here today 01:21:18.580 --> 01:21:20.850 and all those who made the ultimate 01:21:20.859 --> 01:21:22.970 sacrifice for freedom . We will never 01:21:22.970 --> 01:21:25.430 forget our debt to them . Please remain 01:21:25.439 --> 01:21:28.350 standing for the firing of the 21 gun 01:21:28.359 --> 01:21:31.779 salute . Taps a moment of 01:21:31.790 --> 01:21:34.029 silence and departure of the color 01:21:34.040 --> 01:21:34.569 guard . 01:25:12.899 --> 01:25:14.149 Retire the colors . 01:26:23.810 --> 01:26:25.921 Ladies and gentlemen , this ends this 01:26:25.921 --> 01:26:28.032 year's D day ceremony at the Normandy 01:26:28.032 --> 01:26:30.649 American Cemetery . Thank you for your 01:26:30.660 --> 01:26:32.882 presence here today . In honor of those 01:26:32.882 --> 01:26:35.049 who fought to restore our freedom . We 01:26:35.049 --> 01:26:37.104 will never forget their sacrifice on 01:26:37.104 --> 01:26:39.327 behalf of the American Battle Monuments 01:26:39.327 --> 01:26:41.493 Commission . We thank all of those who 01:26:41.493 --> 01:26:43.604 supported this cemetery and all those 01:26:43.604 --> 01:26:45.716 in attendance today . Let us remember 01:26:45.716 --> 01:26:47.827 that for those who died on the fields 01:26:47.827 --> 01:26:49.827 of combat to liberate Europe , they 01:26:49.827 --> 01:26:51.993 sacrificed all their tomorrows for our 01:26:51.993 --> 01:26:54.439 today's main maintaining their legacy 01:26:54.450 --> 01:26:58.040 is our promise . The American Battle 01:26:58.049 --> 01:26:59.216 Monuments Commission 01:27:02.430 --> 01:27:03.259 ceremony . 01:27:20.959 --> 01:27:24.490 Ladies and gentlemen , please remain in 01:27:24.500 --> 01:27:26.333 place until the departure of the 01:27:26.333 --> 01:27:27.029 official party .