As a kid of parents who met while fighting in WWII, that conflagration has always loomed in my consciousness, and that of my age cohort. Mom (RAF) and Dad (US Army Air Corps) labradog met in Great Britain where they were meteorologists, working to bring the American convoys across the Atlantic safely, to assist the crews of bombers and fighters in effectively complete their missions over Britain and the rest of Europe.
Under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, on June 6, 1944, the Allies' combined forces launched history's largest military invasion against the axis troops then holding much of Europe. Although this date is becoming an obscure detail in history, it represents astounding efforts which were planned and marshalled against mortal threats to peace and justice.
We now face the ultimate moment of our struggle for the election of Barack Obama. This effort is re-writing the history of politics in America. The depth and breadth of this campaign is unmatched by anything I've seen or read of in my 55 years.
You know what's coming; join me below the jump - the jump into our heroic past, and into our hopeful future.
On the eve of the D-Day invasion, slips of paper, the "orders of the day", were distributed to the hundreds of thousands of Allied troops who were about to bet their lives on the uncertain outcome of their certain duty to their fellows, their nations, and the world.
To enhance the following piece, to focus its larger historic relevance for us to ponder on the eve of our great effort, I have used ellipses and a few parenthetical edits.
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
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.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the ... war
machine, the elimination of ... tyranny over the oppressed peoples ..., and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year (2008)! Much has happened since the ... (Republican) triumphs of (1994 and 2000-2004). (We) have inflicted upon (them) great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower
I also got to thinking about the words of Winston Churchill.
We shall fight in the precincts and the congressional districts,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength on the air, we shall defend our future, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the phone banks,
we shall fight to GOTV,
we shall fight for Voter Protection in the blue states and the red,
we shall fight in the vote counts and re-counts;
we shall never surrender.
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And, finally: Pick up the phone on election day. Call your friends, your relatives, call everyone you know personally who supports Obama, and make sure they have voted. No matter how true blue they are, just call and make sure. Offer praise, encouragement, a hot shot for their car battery, a ride, some company, whatever it takes.