Political Quotes

“68 years ago today, June 6, 1944, some 150,000 Americans, including many Ohioans, began what seemed like an impossible journey. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower called it ``the Great Crusade.'' At 6:30 on a fog-filled morning on June 6, 1944, our servicemembers made it to France. They waded onshore--past mines landed from the air, past sharpened stakes--and crawled toward gunfire. General Eisenhower told our sailors, soldiers, and airmen that the ``eyes of the world . . . the hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere'' were with them. A mere 50-mile stretch of the French coast--with places named Utah and Omaha, Gold and Juno Pointe du Hoc and Sword--was all that stood between humanity's freedom and Hitler's aggression. But our warriors--men such as Ohio's own PFC Frank E. Harget--did not give up. Last May I had the honor of presenting Mr. Harget, of Akron, OH, the service medals he earned during World War II, some 67 or 68 years later. Frank Harget joined the Army in September 1943 and was immediately sent to the European theatre. He was given the unenviable task of scout and was dispatched to the front lines to perform reconnaissance. His job was to gather intelligence on enemy forces. Many times, Mr. Harget told me, he was so close to the German front, he could see German soldiers eating their lunch. He served in five battle campaigns, from D-day to the Battle of the Bulge, and in Central Europe. Mr.…”