POMPEO: 80th Anniversary of D-Day Is a Reminder of the Bravery and Sacrifice Our Nation Was Built Upon

This week marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy that would liberate Europe and bring about the downfall of Nazi Germany.  This anniversary is a reminder for all Americans of the bravery and sacrifice upon which our country and our world was built.

We should remember and honor the unparalleled heroism displayed that day: The intrepid Army Rangers who scaled the sheer cliffs of Pointe du Hoc; Lt. Robert Patrick Mathias, a U.S. paratrooper who was mortally wounded by shrapnel fire, yet still shouted, “Follow Me!” to his men and jumped out into the night, ensuring his fellow paratroopers could make their jump without delay; the utterly brave Americans who stormed both Utah and Omaha beaches, persevering in the face of heavy resistance and terrible casualties.

What is it that inspired these noble, courageous acts?  What cause did these young Americans risk so much in service of?  It wasn’t political rhetoric or a narrow idea of American interests.  They fought because it was right and decent – and that embodies the American spirit. In the words of Ronald Reagan, they “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.”  These soldiers, their families, and America’s leaders knew that wars of defined conquest wouldn’t end at someone else’s shore, but ours.  They knew that a world dominated by totalitarian states, be they fascist or communist, was a world in which America could not prosper or exist freely.  And so, these young men came to Europe as liberators, marching against wicked regimes and their legions.  They persevered through terrible, even terrifying situations and emerged victorious.  This was one of the most heroic chapters of our nation’s history, and it was followed by a steadfast commitment to keeping Western Europe free from communist Russia’s conquest in the wake of our victory over Nazi Germany.

We should always honor the brave Americans, as well as the many British, Canadian, and other allied soldiers who fought on D-Day and in the months that followed.  Their courage helped lay the foundation for the world we enjoy today – a world that has never been as free, prosperous, or secure.

Yet as we mark D-Day’s 80th anniversary this week, we must be mindful that this same world is once again challenged by totalitarian regimes in China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.  Each wishes to crush the freedom and peace that was won in WWII and the years that followed to further its own power and narrow interests.  Iran wishes to destroy Israel and plunge the Middle East into a terrible war.  The Chinese Communist Party wishes to crush freedom in Taiwan and upend the international system – based on the sovereignty and freedom of individual states – built by America and our allies after WWII.  Putin’s regime wishes to crush freedom in Ukraine and will likely set its sights on the rest of Eastern Europe if it achieves victory there.  We should treat this anniversary not only as a reminder of America’s triumph, but of the terrible cost so many paid because free nations allowed wicked, aggressive regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan to disrupt peace, invade their neighbors, and pursue truly evil designs on the world.  We cannot afford to make the same mistakes today.

This week, a group of the last surviving veterans of D-Day will visit Normandy, likely for the final time.  Their presence serves as a living reminder that although the events of WWII may seem distant and long ago, they are really only a single lifetime away from having happened.  One of these veterans was asked what drove him and so many more to risk their lives. He replied humbly, “There are things worth fighting for . . . sometimes you’re called upon to do something and you just do it.”  Amidst an increasingly dangerous world, I pray that the American people and our leaders today recognize the courage, moral clarity, and determination displayed by American soldiers on D-Day and follow their example.

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