D-Day 60th Anniversary - forget you-know-who, and recognize history.

[VolcanoJen]

Coverage just kicked off on MSNBC, not sure about the other cable outlets.

This is a huge event, with Chimpy, Blair, and Chirac, and the historic attendance by Putin and Schroeder. Many of the veterans there will not live to see the next milestone anniversary, making this occasion all the more historic, and somewhat heartbreaking.

If anyone wants to talk about the D-Day Ceremonies, here's a thread. :D

On Edit: Forgot about Schroeder. Sorry, Gerhard!! kinda...

[VolcanoJen]

1. WEIRD... Chimpy not there yet, delayed by "fog" is the official excuse.

Interesting... but it does look like Marine 1 is about to land.

[RoyGBiv]

5. Is this man on time for anything?

More and more it seems like his alcoholism has resurfaced...

[thebigidea]

2. I'm always creeped out when Smirk strolls past tombstones...

with that asshole grin on his face, like an angel of death. ok, maybe not an angel. an imp of death?

[RoyGBiv]

3. A toast to the veterans of the second war to end all wars...

How I wish that had been true.

A D-Day veteran I knew died about three years ago. I'd known him as a customer in my store mostly, but one day in June, the year he died, he just started talking to me. I got the impression he'd never talked to anyone about it except for those who had experienced it with him. I felt more honored by that than anything else that's ever happened in my life.

He cried a little, just soft tears that made his eyes glisten, when he told me about a friend who'd been shot dead a few feet from him. "Craziest bastard I ever knew. Sumbitch was too nuts to live I guess. I think he took my bullet though." Eventually, after maybe an hour of standing in my store, going through his memories, he just said, "Welp...that's that! Give me the usual," which was a pint bottle of "sweet lucy," a really cheap, sweet wine. I gave him the nickname Sweet Lou. It made him laugh, and his belly was so big that when he did so, he reminded me of Santa Claus.

I only saw him a few more times after that, maybe a couple dozen. He never mentioned anything about the war again. He told me the usual daily joke, and he always had a word or two to say about politicians, which he generally disliked no matter what the party. He died in his apartment, alone. I learned of it by reading the paper. He had no children, no surviving siblings, and his wife had died years before. There were no services. I think I was the only regular human contact he had. I left a flag at his grave on Memorial Day; no other decorations were present.

He was just a soldier of the last great war to end them all, mostly forgotten, but he'll always live in my mind. Wherever he is, I want to thank him.

[VolcanoJen]

20. Roy, thanks for telling us about "Sweet Lou."

A beautiful story. I'm spending today thinking about all the veterans in my life. Thank you.

[VolcanoJen]

4. Chimpy Landing Now... it's like a Flight-Suit Moment!

OK.. maybe not that bad..

[thebigidea]

6. it just struck me that it would be hilarious to see...

... Mr. Chalabi in the corner of the frame, waving to the camera.

Well, its hard not to be a little silly at 4am.

[VolcanoJen]

7. These pictures of Franco-American unity are touching.

Specifically, one French and American soldier, each, in unison, escorting Mrs. Chirac and Mrs. Bush to their seats.

I like it, it makes me happy, and it pisses me off the more I watch that Chimpy had to go and screw it up so...

[RoyGBiv]

8. I had a similar thought...

I was looking at the line of American flags and wanting so much to feel a sense of pride, but I couldn't help but think of the multitudes of people in that country right now that see that flag and feel nothing but hate.

It is some sort of sick, cosmic joke that Shrub had to be President during this anniversary. Sheesh.

[RoyGBiv]

9. Question: Who all is speaking?

I thought I heard a talking head just say that Chirac and Shrub would have 12 minutes each, but no one else was mentioned. No Canadians, British, et al?

Or did I hear it wrong.

[VolcanoJen]

11. The Canadians are having a separate ceremony at Juno Beach.

It's happening right now, at the same time as the Franco-American ceremony at Omaha Beach. I believe the British are still in church services, in the gorgeous Bayeux cathedral (which I had the pleasure of visiting in the spring of 2000; Bayeux is just the loveliest Norman town imaginable). From the schedule, it would seem the Franco-British ceremony will take place at 11 - noon, at the British Cemetery in Bayeux... the Queen is scheduled to attend, as well as Blair.

Here's a schedule of events, in local time; more extensive if you click on the link; that reenactment of the landing sounds pretty cool...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/secondworldwar/story/0,14058,1232614,00.html

---

6.40am: Royal British Legion plants flags for each of the dead at Sword beach.

9.15-10am: Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance, Bayeux cathedral.

9.30am: American ceremony at US cemetery overlooking Omaha beach, attended by President George Bush.

9.30am: Canadian ceremony at Juno beach. The Queen lays a wreath and meets and addresses veterans.

10-noon: Memorial services at Airborne Cross and Ranville (main remembrance event for the Parachute Regiment).

10-11am: Wreath laying at Caen chateau.

11-noon: British-French ceremony at Bayeux Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery. The Queen and President Jacques Chirac review joint guards of honour.

11am-7pm: Events at Gold beach, including re-enactment of the landing.

[RoyGBiv]

15. Thanks...

I wasn't aware of the separation of events. Makes sense though.

A reenactment? That's quite interesting.

[VolcanoJen]

18. The History Channel should be all over this!

Anyone know if we'll be able to escape "The Reagasm" and watch these historic events unfold live? If so... channel, please!

[VolcanoJen]

10. Chirac brings up 9/11, says "America is our eternal ally."

"Their grief is eternally our grief."

They answer in dignity, we answer in Freedom Fries.

Cry, the beloved country...

[thebigidea]

12. he's babbling about souls shaken by "the violences of war"

FAUX BUSH: "the violencamatizing of the warification - uh, which is victory... and victory means freedom, which is security... and when free people embrace security - uh..."

REAL BUSH: "men were sent in by parachute and bladder... carrying brave and frightening men..."

"I became a visitor to hell."

oh man, what a great sample. I'm gonna use the hell out of that.

[VolcanoJen]

13. Is he wearing an earpiece?

}(

Worst. Presidential. Speaker. EVER.

[thebigidea]

14. fleshcolored earpiece in the left ear, yeah...

"Chickeninchief to Karl, come in Karl... Karl, can you hear me..."

he's as inspiring as drywall. what a pathetic creature...

[RoyGBiv]

16. No doubt...

He totally screwed up FDR's D-Day prayer.

He also left out this excerpt:

"For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest."

Hmmm...wonder why.

[FDRrocks]

17. "It was another great day in Franco-American relationships"

Alls I heard was chuckling.

"Winders" "Half a way a mile"

[TheWebHead]

19. oh those "shattered winders"

yeah, many can misspeak, but Bush never seems to want to correct himself.

[VolcanoJen]

21. Well, at least he's finished with boring the crap out of me.

Could they put Chirac back on?

[VolcanoJen]

22. British Ceremony live now - MSNBC (5:45 am edt)

Look!! The Queen!! :D