June 6th 1944.  I seem to recall a few days earlier there was a lot more activity with the big troop carrier trucks on our hi-ways going toward the coast. The expressions on the faces of the young soldiers seemed somewhat grim as if they knew they were going on an important mission.

I remember that the weather was dreary and early in the morning on June 6th, there was a roaring that kept building up that I had never heard before. It sounded like millions of bees only much louder. I glanced up into the sky and saw what seemed to hundreds of planes taking off from all the bases around where I lived. I could hardy believe my eyes, many other people were standing around looking at this spectacle. The roar of the engines on the planes was almost deafening and the sky was darkened by so many planes in the air.

We all had a sense of fear as to just what was happening, we felt surely that some of these planes would collide flying so close together. Later that day we kept listening and watching for planes returning to their bases and alas many did not make it. I remember just like it was yesterday. Later we learned it was the beginning of D-day. Our thoughts turned to those troops who were going to battle to end this war which had been going on for years.

I said a silent prayer as I am sure others did for the safety of these brave young soldiers knowing in my heart that there would be many casualties. Many were storming the beaches while others were fighting from the skies above, with planes being shot down and many lives were lost.

No one will really ever know unless they were there and witnessed all the horror seeing there comrades facing a cruel cruel enemy, the sand on the beaches turned red from the blood shed by so many heroes.

What price was paid that day for freedom which many did not live to share and many more wounded whose lives were changed forever. We see many in wheelchairs everyday and it is so sad that many of our young people today do not realize the price these veterans paid for the freedom they enjoy today.

We were so happy when WW2 ended in England (V. E. Day March 8.1945), people were laughing, singing and dancing in the street as peace had come for us at last. 

War was still raging in the Pacific with many more battles to be fought and won before victory could be declared on (August 8, 1945). This was supposed to be the war to end all wars, but alas, this was not to be.

Hilda

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