May 2024 Edition

June 6, 1944
By: Rana Goodman / On My Soapbox
Last August, Publisher Dan and I vacationed
in Europe. We made a special effort to visit
Normandy.
Ironically, my family came
to the United States in 1953,
transplants from England, and
yet, in spite of this French coast
being just across the English
Channel I had never been to
Normandy.
It was a place I had longed
to visit and pay my respects;
especially since June 6th makes
the 80 th anniversary of “D-Day,”
- the day the Allies stormed the
continent.
Whenever thinking about
what happened on “D-Day”
(and especially when Dan and
I visited this historic site) I
remembered how many times my dad would say “Thank God for the
Yanks.”
My father, who rarely spoke of his days in the “Combined Operations”
of the British army, (England’s version of the US Special forces) refused
to talk about “D-Day.” His reasoning was that he lost too many friends
that day.
As I strolled around the many monuments on that beach, my
emotions went from pride in
honoring the countries and
soldiers who participated in
such a world-changing battle,
to sadness and anger over the
thousands of men killed that day.
The museum at the site of the
cemetery honors the Allied forces
was nothing short of fascinating
and awe-inspiring. Their various
films highlights what happened
that fateful day 80 years ago.
There were likewise numerous
exhibits and photographs of
the courage, determination
and sadly, carnage, death and
destruction of men (some just boys) on that Normandy beach.
I wished my dad was with me when I walked along the coast. I
pictured my dad bursting with pride where his fellow “Brits and Yanks”
turned the tide against Nazi Germany and saved the world.
While flags of the Allied nations that participated blew steadily in the
breeze of the sea air, I realized just how fortunate I am living in this
great country. Yes, there are a lot of problems and divisions in America,
but seeing those graves makes one realize how we owe a never-ending
debt of gratitude to those brave, courageous soldiers.
Thousands of men died on these beaches and as the 80 th anniversary
approaches, I hope everyone reading this takes a moment to remember
and offer a prayer of thanks to these brave men.
6
May 2024
Guardianship Seminar
Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman is joined by our
Vegas Voice Executive Director Bill Caserta, Publisher Dan and
President Rana Goodman. Councilwoman Seaman sponsored our
Guardianship seminar last month for her constituents.