Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published June 8, 2005

June 6, 1944 will always have profound meaning

For those whose loved ones were in the military in 1944, even after 61 years the memories of June 6,1944 are still fresh. At the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, older visitors relive that time and younger visitors learn what a fateful time it was. Historian/author Stephen Ambrose saw his long dreamed-of project come true when the dedication of the museum was held on June 6, 2000.

The street leading to America's National WWII Museum is named Andrew Higgins Drive. On that terrible day in 1944, few would have recognized that name, but Gen. Dwight Eisenhower did and much later he told Ambrose, "You know, Higgins is the man who won the war for us."

The first thing you see as you enter the museum is a full-size replica of the Higgins boat. It is a symbol of the courageous soldiers who boarded the small craft. They were men filled with hope and fear as they headed for the beach. On June 4, 1944 Eisenhower had written a letter to the troops headed for the unknown. "You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you."

Andrew Jackson Higgins built boats for oil men and trappers sailing in the shallow waters of the Louisiana bayous. He believed the answer to the invasion was a flat bottomed boat with a ramp that could ease onto a beach and then make a quick turn to bring more men. He designed such a boat but it was not easy to convince those in power. After a number of trial runs the Navy ordered 20,000-plus Higgins Boats (landing craft for vehicles and personnel) LCVPs.

Throughout the museum are exhibits from the beginning to the end of that long war. The home front played an active part and is acknowledged. In WWII, unlike the wars that followed, the home front was fully mobilized. The visitor moves from one mini-theater to another. Each has video tapes of people from those years. There are G.I. Joes and Rosie the Riveter speaking their thoughts. There are posters, animated maps and artifacts.

On December 7, 2001, the year old museum opened a 5,000-square foot Pacific wing. That day marked the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although Normandy is the most celebrated D-Day, the military use of that term marks the date of any amphibious invasion; there were more than 100 D-Days just as deadly in the Pacific theater.

In June 1944, those on the homefront knew an invasion was near. On June 5 headlines screamed the heartening news that Rome had been liberated by Allied forces. At dawn on June 6 we knew the invasion was under way. There was no rejoicing, only a deep sense of mourning. I was in New York City on that day and the department store windows were draped in black. Silent multitudes stood outside filled churches waiting their turn to enter for a word of prayer. Few families were unaffected at that moment in history.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was alerted the night before that D-Day was under way and he began writing a prayer. On the night of June 6 his tired voice came over the airwaves. He began as always, "My fellow Americans. In this poignant hour I ask you to join me in prayer. Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor. A struggle to preserve our republic, our religion. And our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity."

Deep sorrow colored his voice over the loss of so many in this effort to end the war. He closed, "With Thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.