Ted Poe: “It was 70 years ago. The sky was gray, the rain pelted the teenage Americans as they were part of the greatest…”

“It was 70 years ago. The sky was gray, the rain pelted the teenage Americans as they were part of the greatest amphibious attack in world history. It was June 6, 1944--D-Day. The rough seas of the English Channel tossed GIs about in the landing craft as they came under intense brutal fire from the enemy on the French shore. In spite of high casualties on the beaches, they moved forward. They climbed the unbelievable cliffs, and the troops were successful in driving the enemy from the French coast. Their success allowed more Americans to follow in future waves and later days and later weeks. My dad, Sergeant Virgil Poe, was one of them who came later. The GIs--they came, they liberated, and some went home. The others lie in graves atop the cliffs of Normandy, France. Their crosses and Stars of David glisten in the sun where 9,000 Americans are buried. We appreciate and remember all of them for giving up their youth so we could have a future. And that's just the way it is. ____________________”