Today I want to give thanks to all the men that were killed and survived D-Day. On this 75th Anniversary of the June 6, 1944, Allied invasion of Normandy to liberate France. Hence, defeating and pushing back Nazi Germany during that extremely important battle of WWII. The “D” in D-Day was simply a designation of a specific date. So, if the invasion happened a day earlier it would have been C-Day or a day later it would have been E-Day. Either way, it was a turning point in the war that has shaped Europe.
The Preparation for D-Day
In 1944 more than two million troops from more than 12 countries gathered in Britain preparing for the invasion. So, on D-Day, Allied forces consisted primarily of US, British and Canadian troops prepared for the assault. But the troops also included Australian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, New Zealand, Norwegian, Rhodesian and Polish naval, air and ground support. This French poster that reads, “All Together, for a Single Victory” shows the resolve and cooperation of the Allied forces.
The Cost of D-Day
Over 156,000 men performed an amphibious beach landing on 5 different beaches in Normandy France. Over 4,400 allied troops died and the Germans also lost somewhere between 4,000-9,000 troops. The numbers are uncertain concerning German casualties. But, the battles on each beach were vicious and horrifying. The fighting on the beach designated Omaha was the worst. Over 4,000 died on that beach alone. The beaches from west to east were, Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah. The invasion was costly, but a complete success.
D-Day 75th Anniversary
The last time I was in Indiana I visited Zimmerman Art Glass in Corydon, IN. At the time it was their 75th anniversary of making fine Art glass. My parents have been frequenting their Art Glass studio for many years. They also have bought their share of Zimmerman Art Glass. When I visited a few years ago I noticed a couple of amazing pieces of glasswork. The young lady in the studio then shared the story about those pieces of glass. She said that the owner, Mr. Zimmerman, has a friend that visited Normandy.
While there, Mr. Zimmerman asked him to get some beach sand from Normandy and bring it back to him. So, his friend did just that. Then Mr. Zimmerman melted the sand down into the molten glass and made several beautiful pieces of Art Glass out of this beach sand from Normandy. Consequently, I bought two of the pieces myself. They are pictured below.
My Art Glass on this D-Day 75th Anniversary in 2019
My precious wife and I really enjoy them for their beauty as well as their sentimental value. I’m pretty sure that 4 generations of Browns have visited Zimmerman Art Glass in just my immediate family. But many of my uncles, aunts, and cousins live in or near Corydon, Indiana. So there is no telling how many of them have visited the glass studio and watched the glassblowing demonstrations at Zimmerman Art Glass. If you are ever in Indiana or northern Kentucky near Louisville, it would be worth the trip to see their amazing glasswork. Call ahead and make sure you visit when they are having a demonstration. It is very cool to watch and they will gladly answer any questions you might have. Fun for the whole family!
D-Day 75th Anniversary
On this very important day, I again thank the fine men who fought and died or also fought and lived. They helped to liberate France from forced German rule and struck the first fatal blow to the German war machine. These fine men and also the women that followed to care for the wounded are amazing examples of what our greatest generation accomplished. I cherish their memories and may God bless their families.
