tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post4161935002547559886..comments2024-03-18T08:28:21.036+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: D-Day Remembrances 70 years on: 6th June 1944 – 2014 … in the A-Z format ...Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-59581237236727288302014-07-02T07:29:43.190+01:002014-07-02T07:29:43.190+01:00@ Slamdunk - many thanks .. and S for Sacrifice do...@ Slamdunk - many thanks .. and S for Sacrifice does, as you say, encapsulate everything that happened during both Wars, but especially here for the 2nd World War ... <br /><br />Appreciate your visit - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-8137655252485420182014-07-02T02:37:52.543+01:002014-07-02T02:37:52.543+01:00Wow big applause for you Hilary with such a compre...Wow big applause for you Hilary with such a comprehensive post. I think your S for sacrifice encapsulates everything that was on that day--so many gave so much.<br /><br />Fantastic job with this one. Slamdunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087161268629251860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-31245196292202657212014-07-01T19:40:51.324+01:002014-07-01T19:40:51.324+01:00Hi Eddie .. thanks so much for promoting me as Pos...Hi Eddie .. thanks so much for promoting me as Post of the Week .. really kind of you .. I was able to pull other's information into a readable post that draws our attention and reminds us of the past .. <br /><br />I'm grateful that you're reminding us about that dreadful war .. <br /><br />With thoughts to all our losses .. HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-41385395034283418762014-07-01T18:51:03.793+01:002014-07-01T18:51:03.793+01:00Conrats on POTW Hilary.
This great DDay account re...Conrats on POTW Hilary.<br />This great DDay account really stirred me ~ Eddie Eddie Bluelightshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18069024660422117718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-11372655034213068732014-07-01T07:58:57.765+01:002014-07-01T07:58:57.765+01:00@ TexWis - many thanks I'm glad it made sense ...@ TexWis - many thanks I'm glad it made sense to you and it is important that we remember many of the layers that happened that day ... <br /><br />@ Out on the Prairie ... appreciate your comment -thank you ..<br /><br />Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-47073732297751683942014-06-30T23:59:20.882+01:002014-06-30T23:59:20.882+01:00Very interesting facts to enjoy. You spent a lot o...Very interesting facts to enjoy. You spent a lot of work on this project.Out on the prairiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548162534362532705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-88861789378164230122014-06-30T23:03:08.100+01:002014-06-30T23:03:08.100+01:00incredibly inclusive, comprehensive, historical an...incredibly inclusive, comprehensive, historical and emotional compilation. extremely well done to mark this most important day in the world's history. congratulations on your POTW at hilary's!TexWisGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641962051044162710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-62327996665842586712014-06-30T07:47:24.701+01:002014-06-30T07:47:24.701+01:00@ Milo - thanks .. one wonders how many other arti...@ Milo - thanks .. one wonders how many other artists lost their lives, yet Salinger survived, which was very fortunate.<br /><br />@ Sarah - many thanks - I wish I was competent and knowledgeable enough to start a Wiki page - the blog keeps me happy .. but it's not categorised terribly well. Still really appreciate your thoughts .. <br /><br />Your Anzac Day is to commemorate all those service men "who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations" and too was started after World War One ... <br /><br />It is to mark the first campaign that led to major casualties .. Our British Remembrance Day recognises the end of WWI: Nov 11th ... I've written about that ... "Poppies on Remembrance Day" - last year .. <br /><br />Thanks for taking so much interest .. and for your own information .. <br /><br />Cheers to you both - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-75155981532523543922014-06-30T01:21:48.468+01:002014-06-30T01:21:48.468+01:00You've done a lot of research- very impressive...You've done a lot of research- very impressive! Have you thought of starting up a wikipedia page? <br />In New Zealand we have ANZAC day on the 25th of April to remember the New Zealand and Australian soldiers who died. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165495372283788914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-67032976106192169052014-06-29T15:26:06.122+01:002014-06-29T15:26:06.122+01:00Incredible post! I had no idea about Salinger -- t...Incredible post! I had no idea about Salinger -- that is so cool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-60641734736339451112014-06-29T08:36:31.610+01:002014-06-29T08:36:31.610+01:00@ Julia - life is hectic thankfully - so it's ...@ Julia - life is hectic thankfully - so it's just lovely to see everyone, when they can get here.<br /><br />Somehow we need to engage people to be diplomatic and not enter into Wars .. and solve things without bullying, but we need to understand the bigger picture - the communities and peoples .. <br /><br />The main thing is a few things came to the fore to remind us or enlighten us .. thanks ..<br /><br />@ Deniz - me too .. I tear up rather more often than I should and yes as you mention - those recent generations are great and have done so much for us all .. to live as we do today.<br /><br />@ Misha - sadly yes - atrocities, but we needed to free ourselves from Hitler, the dictator, then Stalin .. and so it goes on .. <br /><br />Always innocent lives are lost .. particularly in the two Great Wars;<br /><br />peoples' greed leads to other monstrosities occurring ... we live in a difficult world with many challenges ... I hope we can start to resolve these ... <br /><br />@ Susan - I'm sure through your radio hams and connections in that world - much would be known .. but as you say it's the personal remembrances that bring the full horror of the War and the fact we're still all the same ... people living lives ... despite being called up to fight .. <br /><br />It was a very poignant day ... <br /><br />@ Nancy - many thanks I pulled threads together - and then you comment and give us extra thoughts .. about your father and your step-father ... <br /><br />I didn't go into aspects on the rest of the War ... but your step father's mission must have been very daunting .. and they were so young, with those instructions ... <br /><br />Birthdays don't count in War do they .. <br /><br /><br />Thank you so much - I'm really grateful for all your comments .. all the best HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-63793681741591438532014-06-29T06:41:32.635+01:002014-06-29T06:41:32.635+01:00Hi Hilary
You amaze me with so much research. What...Hi Hilary<br />You amaze me with so much research. What a post. I was especially touched by the brothers who hadn't seen each other for years. Amazing.<br /><br />My father was an only child. He was stationed in Britain and helped with a few events to benefit orphans. My stepfather was in the air force and flew a spy plane over Japan. He had one gun with one bullet to take his own life if shot down and captured. <br /><br />My mother's birthday is June 8.<br /><br />As always, your post is informative and full of emotion.<br />NancyN. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-40504520344613318232014-06-28T21:22:34.299+01:002014-06-28T21:22:34.299+01:00What a brilliant post, Hilary. There are a lot of ...What a brilliant post, Hilary. There are a lot of things in here that I already knew, but there are so many other things that are new to me... the personal stories, especially, that make the telling that much more poignant. Thanks for all the research you did to put this together. I think it's your best post ever.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-7297241722320328512014-06-28T14:15:35.852+01:002014-06-28T14:15:35.852+01:00It is a great moment, I agree, but in a sense, it ...It is a great moment, I agree, but in a sense, it was senseless and atrocious too. <br /><br />Yes, it made our freedom possible, but at the cost of thousands of innocent lives on both sides, lost because of a few select people's greed. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-82441296923377973042014-06-28T13:21:05.947+01:002014-06-28T13:21:05.947+01:00Wonderful post, Hilary. This sort of thing always ...Wonderful post, Hilary. This sort of thing always makes me teary. Especially that coincidence of the brothers and the two friends meeting up. The greatest generation, those who fought and lived through in WWI and WWII...Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-82590014516726092362014-06-28T12:43:36.582+01:002014-06-28T12:43:36.582+01:00This is a very comprehensive post.
I agree with Pa...This is a very comprehensive post.<br />I agree with Patsy. Teaching the younger generations to prevent wars.<br />How interesting that the troops used bicycles...<br />Very nice selection of pictures, and the same applies to the interesting post you wrote about the queen. I read it a few days ago but I left no comment.<br />Sorry for this delay but my week has been hectic!<br />Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn so much...Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-29443251844564513012014-06-28T12:39:16.687+01:002014-06-28T12:39:16.687+01:00@ Julie - I was emotional as I watched, read and c...@ Julie - I was emotional as I watched, read and curated for this post and thought about many things.<br /><br />That's so lovely to know your father went back over to Normandy for the 50th anniversary .. and I bet he was pleased he'd made the effort and could commemorate his comrades then and now.<br /><br />That's right - and it was so important to have this last commemoration ... some may make 75 years and one or two even 80 years after D-Day itself: 6th June 1944 ... we'll see ... <br /><br />I'm glad you know your father went on his anniversary return trip - you must be so proud of him.<br /><br />@ Brian - the reality of that day is not something I want to dwell on - but sadly was true ... and the soldiers instructions wade by, walk by - desperate to have to obey that ... <br /><br />At least we're free and can enjoy our weekends ... <br /><br />@ Joylene - no worries, one advantage of blogging .. the posts are there for consumption at any time .. <br /><br />It was interesting to be reminded that the Queen was old enough to serve in the War, and would have remembered her father and mother dealing with the dreadful crisis occurring ... <br /><br />@ Rhonda - I hope the girls can learn a lot ... and relate those times to today's world ... <br /><br />I certainly didn't put the worst bits in ... dreadful days and nights .. <br /><br />@ Juliet - Sadly I suspect the tortured person didn't survive - the prisoners treatment was just appalling ...<br /><br />The Queen's green outfit is green isn't it!! There was so much to write about .. but I'm happy you appreciated it .. <br /><br />@ Marja - many thanks - yes the Dutch, and the French played such an important role in bringing down the Nazis ... the Resistance fighters were a very brave bunch ... <br /><br />It must have been such a difficult time for the Europeans in the west - and thank goodness for our leaders being able to get us all out of the War by ending it .. <br /><br />@ Julie - I appreciate your thoughts .. I wish it was original .. but I'm glad to bring an overview of aspects of the War into one of 'my style' posts .. <br /><br />Thanks so much everyone ... I'm glad I plucked up courage and wrote the post, even if I curated others' words - this format makes it easier to put together .. <br /><br />Cheers and have good weekends ... Hilary<br /><br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-78116148605416714952014-06-28T10:29:37.811+01:002014-06-28T10:29:37.811+01:00Hilary, Leave it to you to go above and beyond cov...Hilary, Leave it to you to go above and beyond covering this historical event in words and pictures. I will have to go back to re-read many of these fascinating facts. It was deeply moving to see the soldiers return seventy years later. Thank you for this historical masterpiece, Hilary! I could see this appearing on PBS.<br /><br />JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-25320050300658365772014-06-28T09:32:42.017+01:002014-06-28T09:32:42.017+01:00An impressive detailed touching post
about D day....An impressive detailed touching post <br />about D day. It touched my heart to read about the brothers meeting each other by coincidence and the old friends and the sergeant who raises his hand. So much bravery and sadness. Holland has a lot to be thankful to them as well. <br />Fantastic postMarjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17458942200244031009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-4509623511609777072014-06-28T08:28:53.683+01:002014-06-28T08:28:53.683+01:00What an amazing post - it's like reading an en...What an amazing post - it's like reading an encyclopaedia! So much fascinating detail here - Hitler waiting till after breakfast to get the news, the paratroopers' reunion in the cornfield, the confessed code that then wasn't believed!! (I bet that was a relief for the tortured person, if they survived). The queen's green outfit is stunning. Thanks Hilary, I got behind as I've been very busy, but nice to catch up again.Juliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542985048406828693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-56821394629642551422014-06-28T07:03:01.257+01:002014-06-28T07:03:01.257+01:00Wow Hilary, this is simply incredible. So much in...Wow Hilary, this is simply incredible. So much information, I am saving it as part of a study lesson for my homeschooled girls. Brilliant and it must have been so time consuming. Thanks. Rhonda Albomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455873487349816911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-54499720960793173152014-06-27T21:41:47.966+01:002014-06-27T21:41:47.966+01:00I'm late! I will have to read these again. Tha...I'm late! I will have to read these again. That's so impressive about Mr. Hutton jumping at age 89. And I never thought of the Queen as the only Monarch who would remember D-Day. That's also impressive. Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-51889699148556057442014-06-27T13:38:09.775+01:002014-06-27T13:38:09.775+01:00its the quote by the germans...on them being crazy...its the quote by the germans...on them being crazy to swim up right into the muzzles that i keep coming back to...<br /><br />hope your week ends well...Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-63667014488511990082014-06-27T01:35:39.836+01:002014-06-27T01:35:39.836+01:00This post gave me the chills as I read. One second...This post gave me the chills as I read. One second I smiled at the two "friends" and then nearly cried at the "letters." My dad landed on Utah Beach and returned there in 1994 on the 50th Anniversary. Such an emotional trip for him. He's no longer with us and it's sad to think none of these veterans will be around for another commemoration of this day. Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-17210254493318147202014-06-26T18:13:40.609+01:002014-06-26T18:13:40.609+01:00@ Gary - many thanks .. but I forgot one or two th...@ Gary - many thanks .. but I forgot one or two things essential and perhaps I'll put them along with the War Graves post ... <br /><br />Gary - I'm just so amazed at the effort those wonderful servicemen put in each year to acknowledge their fallen comrades .. and wasn't that chap brilliant for jumping yet again 70 years later ... "feet up Jock" .. that's what he was instructed to do ... and they landed spot on next to Prince Charles .. brilliant I quite agree .. <br /><br />I was very emotional watching it all .. and as you say with respect to the fallen and the survivors ... <br /><br />@ Crystal - War is dreadful .. but this was a poignant commemoration and brought home for those of us interested ... I was glad I watched - as at one stage I was thinking I'd miss it ... I knew so little, I have an idea now ... <br /><br />@ Annalisa - wasn't that such an amazing coincidence .. the two brothers meeting in a ditch .. incredible set of circumstances .. and we do need to remember .. <br /><br />@ Lisa - We must have had something on Bletchley Park here - but I've missed it completely .. I expect they'll do something else at some stage or repeat it .. <br /><br />The friends who met up once again - is wonderful isn't it .. <br /><br />I hope your husband enjoys it - it will be completely different to the type of technical and intellectual information he'd usually have been reading .. <br /><br />@ Tina - thanks for taking time out to read this .. it certainly brought a great deal home to me about the War, that I had had no idea about .. or for that matter interest in - not because I didn't want to know .. just because it was killing and I'm not happy about that - however much the necessity .. thank goodness for the leaders who were able to put the plan into place and actually action it ... <br /><br />The scale of it, as you say is quite staggering, and co-ordinating it to happen ... <br /><br />Thank goodness the Germans didn't believe us Brits!<br /><br />Considering there were other theatres of War going on too - Eastern Europe( Nazis v Soviets), down in the Mediterranean and Africa .. all needing to be co-ordinated ... without the ease of communication we have today .. it does beggar belief somewhat .. <br /><br />I hope your brother-in-law appreciates the post .. <br /><br />Thanks to you all for such lovely comments .. cheers Hilary<br /><br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.com