Once again, it is June 6th, and I post this as my yearly tribute to my father, Francis Xavier Martin. I did this digital collage several years ago and the caption reads: "Frank Martin was a 19-year-old Army Ranger when he went ashore on Omaha Beach that morning. He was still 19 at the end of the day, but had become a man."
Remember today those men who were at Normandy 63 years ago. My Dad was fortunate to have come back home, while many others gave the ultimate sacrifice. Dad is with them now, since his passing in 1995, and lies in Calverton National Cemetery, pursuant to his wishes that he be buried among WWII veterans.
So many people carry just one day that to them was a pivotal point in their lives, where the experiences of that day define their mindset for the remainder of their years. For many of us, September 11, 2001 will be that day. For my Dad, it was June 6, 1944 - he admitted to me once that he always thought about it, and each year would commemorate it. For him, I will continue that tradition.
4 comments:
Thank God for men like your dear father and my Grandfather (whom I never knew) who showed the world what a man looked like that day.
May God bless and grant enternal rest to your father and his comrades.
Thank you, Fr. Erik, for your blessing. My father died a faithful Catholic and I dealt with his death - and continue to deal with it - with the hope and expectation that we will see each other again.
I am sorry for your loss. But happy that your father fought for us, and like Ma Beck says, showed the world what a man is..
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