Remembering D-Day - The fading memories of those who served

[kevinbgoode]

It's now been 64 years since the Allied armed forces launched the greatest seaborne invasion in history - the invasion of Normandy. While there have been many dramatic productions about this event, and many official documentaries about the landings, there hasn't always been as much told from the standpoint of individual soldiers who lived during that time.

The BBC has now amassed 47,000 individual stories on their web site submitted by the public about the World War II years. You can view these at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/

I've read a few of these at random and they have incredible detail and a very personal viewpoint from the writers - a compelling testimony to life in Britain as children were sent away from their parents into the homes of strangers in the country; villages were uprooted and their inhabitants resettled to provide training grounds. Anyone with this interest might bookmark this site (reading is free and you don't have to register).

Back to D-Day. . .a couple of years ago, a British production company gathered all of the authentic color film that they could locate taken during those years and put together an exhaustive documentary of the war through the eyes of people who lived it. Interspersed with music of the time, diary entries, personal films of friends, families, and fellow soldiers, and audio clips of radio addresses/news of the time, this is a very compelling story. The three links I'll provide here are the clips about the leadup to D-Day, the actual invasion (warning - these are real films, so you see bodies in the water) and the reaction of people back in Britain. Some of the details are fascinating - and you can find links to watch the entire history on youtube if you like.

I'm glad that we don't forget this date - the WWII men and women are rapidly passing on, and time is limited to gather as many of their stories as possible. And those stories are important not just as an historical marker, but as an education for the children of tomorrow of how ghastly and horrific war can be to every person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRJtJgnSzFk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctA44Rbw0dM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHlujhaVTQY

These clips last between five and six minutes each. . .and the color preservation is amazing, especially since these are originals.

[Caution]

1. My great uncle was there. I'm incredibly proud to have him as a family member

He's getting up there in age now and his health is starting to fade, but he still remembers that day. It's an honor to know him.

[blonndee]

2. Thank you for posting these!

I'm going to start watching right now.