Today marks the 65th Anniversary of D-Day. For those under 40, it's the day that the Allies invaded France, and liberated it from the Germans during World War II.
Ironically, I'm sitting in Nice, France, where it's quite nice (if it weren't for all the tourists), watching the commemoration ceremonies live. Obama's there, as are hundreds of veterans and their families, and heads of government French President Nicholas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Ironically, none of the four heads of government were alive during the conflict, let alone served. Queen Elizabeth II, however, actually served in the conflict, and wasn't officially invited by the French... Go figure.
When people accuse the US of trying to impose its will on the world, perhaps they'd do well to reflect on the selfless actions taken 65 years ago. France would not be the country it is today had it not been for the sacrifice of tens of thousands of men and women from the United States or the Commonwealth. They didn't die defending their country's borders --- they died on the shores of Normandy, in Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
Then again, as recent history is showing, many in the US are also unable to also realize that the freedoms they enjoy came at a price. It wasn't just handed out to us.
