Memorial Day, D-Day, Flag Day, Independence Day. Upcoming holiday observances make for a show of patriotism, definitely a flag-waving time of the year in Arkansas and elsewhere.
Our veterans, by their example, have taught us how to step up and make a decision or take action.
One such instance of this is the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944, in which the United States, Britain, Canada, and other Allied forces invaded France to liberate it from Germany's grip. It was a great turning point in World War II.
According to historians, one of the deciding factors in the outcome of D-Day was that Allied forces at the forefront of the battle had autonomy to make prompt combat adjustments while the German defenders seemed paralyzed by indecision.
Lives hung in the balance on the northern beaches of France, as many Americans were under heavy fire. But their willingness to make decisions and take action saved the day, as well as many of their own lives.
Historian Stephen Ambrose summed it up well in his book "D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II." He wrote, "The men fighting for democracy were able to make quick, on-site decisions and act on them; the men fighting for the totalitarian regime were not."
Major Dick Winters was a veteran of World War II in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division in an elite company of paratroopers.
Major Winters passed away on Jan. 2, 2011, but his words continue to live on in numerous publications. His role in World War II was also extensively profiled in a 2001 HBO mini-series called Band of Brothers, based upon a book of that name by historian Stephen Ambrose.
Winters wrote in the Forward of The D-Day Companion about how he felt as he was flown over the English Channel to the drop zone in France on the night before D-Day.
"My mind filled with the excitement of being a vital part of the biggest invasion in history," he wrote, "and the tremendous responsibility I now faced of leading men in actual battle, all of us for the first time. I prayed that I was up to the challenge."
We can never repay our military heroes for how they carried out their duties. Perhaps the best we can do is follow their example where we can.
Most of us will never find ourselves in a situation as dire as lying face down on a beach with bullets flying inches over our head, but we do have opportunities almost every day to make a difference by doing what's best for everyone involved.
Most of our combat veterans, both living and dead, would tell us that we should strive to make a better world within the parameters of the freedom they helped preserve.
So while you or I may never see combat, at the very least we should faithfully honor our own responsibilities and commitments, even at those times when we must do so in the face of adversity. On any given day, any one of us may need to step forward, make a decision or take action, much like American heroes did on D-Day more than 70 years ago. Our own humble contributions won't compare to the heroic acts of those on D-Day but we are obligated to make a positive difference where we can.
All over Arkansas there are veterans who deserve our gratitude.
Some may be as close as next door or may be toiling right alongside you at work.
But even if there isn't a veteran within your familiar circle, you can still assist others on any given day. There are so many who would benefit from your encouragement or your kindness.
We owe that to our veterans, to our families, and to our country.
DAVID WILSON, EdD, GREW UP IN ARKANSAS AND HAS WORKED 27 YEARS IN EDUCATION IN MISSOURI. HE IS MOVING TO NWA BECAUSE HE HAS SEVERAL ARKANSAS TIES. HE IS A WRITER, CONSULTANT AND PRESENTER. E-MAIL HIM AT [email protected].
Editorial on 05/25/2016