Landing on the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944
“…The Tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
-General Dwight D. Eisenhower, D-Day order speech.
On the morning of June 6, 1944 more than 160, 000 Allied troops began their attack on Nazi strongholds along the beaches of Normandy, France in World War II.
5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the massive initiative where 9000 Allied troops were either killed or wounded. The cost was great, but it stopped the advance of Nazi Germany and allowed 100,000 troops to begin their advance through Europe, liberating those nations oppressed by the Nazis and eventually defeating Hitler.
Fellow soldiers built this memorial on a secured beach on D-Day
More than 65 years later,
D-Day still represents the greatest example of humanity’s stand against evil. Hitler sought to conquer the earth and annihilate the chosen people of God. He tried to bring about a world government of oppression and false worship; he tried to place himself upon a throne of greatness painted with the blood of God’s saints. But hundreds of thousands of Allied troops called out in one voice, “This evil will not stand,” and as many as 6000 soldiers died at Normandy to push the Nazis back.
Troops help wounded soldiers to safety on D-Day
We have a responsibility to remember the price that was paid to liberate our world. To many of us, D-Day is a thing of history, but all across this nation there are men quietly sitting this morning, remembering the horrific gates of Hell they walked through to protect future generations. These are the men to whom we owe our freedom. As we pray for our troops and remember the fallen, let us also give thanks to the God who delivered us from evil. He has purchased the deed to this earth with the blood of His son, and though Satan will try to destroy God’s people and bring the world into submission again, his power is counterfeit and fleeting. Until that day when he is chained, may God forever remind our hearts of freedom’s cost.
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© Joshua J. Masters and American Psalms, 2012.
Photo Credits: U.S. Army Flickr Stream
As we move into this Memorial Day weekend, we will be sharing three special posts. Saturday we’ll ask you to join us in prayer with an original American Psalm for our troops. On Sunday, a moving Memorial Day prayer will be posted in honor of our fallen heroes. This will be followed by a special edition of 
