It has been 70 years since on a June day, the Channel was
once again breached
Both from the air in morning night and by thousands on
heaving Higgins seeking the beach
Not a mere raid with more Canadian bodies to leave on the rocks in bloody
retreat
But five divisions to land at the Atlantic Wall as a final
step in Hitler’s defeat
Our warriors of D-Day are today in the last days of winter’s coming
grip
Thick glasses, artificial joints, with walkers or canes walking slowly to
not fall or slip
The horror of all horrors to assault a well defended,
waiting beach
Not knowing whether this would be the morning that the
evening you would not reach
For over four years the Germans had the time to a deadly
welcome prepare
A host of 88’s and “buzz saws” to hurl against khakis bare
Mines by the millions to rip the Higgins and gliders apart
Green seasick faces now climbing down the nets to depart
When the dust had cleared and fighting ended late, late at
night
Almost 5,000 young men were laid low by the Dark Boatman’s
fatal bite.
Never again no matter what is mankind’s military course
Will we ever see such a gathering of men and armada force
But heroes we will as a nation continue to breed!
Forces of terror should listen and so take heed!
The genes that climbed the Pointe du Hoc’s vertical cliffs
Or Dutch Cota armed with an unlit cigar giving his troops a lift
Or the All Americans landing in Ste. Mere Eglise spires
Or the destroyers almost ashore point blank at the pill
boxes fire
Still run deep in the generations from those warriors of
June 6, 1944
Joined now by women and all with courage and brains to
settle any score
We have been blessed with the warriors and heroes of that
day
The forces of evil in Europe finally stopped and held at bay
More so we are still blessed that their spirits still live
In the hearts of those in uniform today a final sacrifice
prepared to give
The shadows of sunlight may in the afternoon set on the white tombstones
Of the over 9,000 Americans who from Normandy never made it back home
The Sun on the British Empire may after many years now daily
sets
But on these American forces today against the evil terrors, the shadows
are nowhere near yet.
© June 5, 2014
Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet
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