There’s not a lot I need to tell you about D-Day. It’s one of the seminal moments of the 20th Century, in terms of military & world history. It changed the world we were born into, and the ramifications of that day & that war still influence geopolitical conflicts today.

What I will share is the words to the troops by General Eisenhower & part of the text of FDR’s prayer to the American people from that day. The banner image is the note FDR made in his day planner about when to make the radio address to the American people.

Eisenhower’s words were of a soldier to his men, trying to reinforce their will as they embarked upon a mission one in ten would not return from. He is trying to burnish the steel he hoped was in their spines:

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.      _Source

It takes a man of extreme character to speak words he knows not everyone will hear due to their fear, but he knows he has to say something as they embark upon the task he has planned out for them. He wanted to show he appreciated and believed in their ability to complete their appointed tasks. As such, he never had to read his “In the event of failure” speech, which is on display in his museum in Kansas.

FDR, meanwhile, was trying to reassure the American people – 40% of whom did not want to participate in the war before Pearl Harbor – that the sacrifice their boys were making overseas was right & just, and that

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them–help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Described by his son as a “frustrated clergyman”, FDR felt the monumental scope of the event warranted more than one of his “Fireside Chats“, which by the start of the war had become viewed by many as more of a propaganda exercise than heartfelt explanation of his government’s policy. Given the American tendency to turn to God at times of crisis (as evinced by the “thoughts & prayers” mentality of today), he felt offering a national prayer would be more unfiying.

If nothing else, these two speeches show two leaders trying in their own way to acknowledge the scope of the effort before them, thank the participants for their sacrifice, and prepare people for the inevitability of what was to come. Sure, FDR was a scoundrel & Ike might have been politically naive, but they were the right people at the right time. Political purity tests can’t account for that.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Jets at Habs – 6:00pm | NBCSN / Sportsnet
  • Avs at Vegas – 8:30pm | NBCSN / Sportsnet
• NBA:
  • no night games
• MLB:
  • Red Sox at Yankees – 7:00pm | ESPN / TSN5

It’s a very slow night on TV, so please try to entertain yourselves.