On honoring those who gave their lives on D-Day, June 6, 1944

Today, June 6, is the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landing on the beaches of Normandy, France in 1944. As a nation we honor those gave their last full measure of devotion during this one battle, and yet it is also symbolic of the many battles fought for freedom around the world during the world war. Even as the last veterans of the conflict pass away, we should not forget their sacrifices.

By the end of the first day of Operation Overlord, the Allies (US, British, French, Canadian, Australian, Belgium and others) stormed the beaches of Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold, Sword with more than 175,000 troops, 600 warships, and nearly 10,000 bombers and other warplanes. Almost a million Allies will be on French soil by the end of the month. For this year’s remembrance, Bill Millin’s son, John, age 59 and third generation piper, played the pipes (pictured above) in memory of the many who fought during the world wide conflict.

Bagpiping on D-Day made Bill Millin, then a 21 year old Royal Marine Commando, a hero to many a Scot and Brit. He is remembered for piping on D-Day during the initial landing. For an account of his bravery / craziness see my entry from last June. A few things you may not have known about ‘Bill’. His father was a piper in WWI. ‘Bill’ played in the pipe bands of two separate Highland regiments before volunteering as a Commando during World War II where he became the personal piper to Simon Fraser, 17th Lord Lovat, commander of the Special Services Regiment landing on June 6th. Bill played to bolster the spirits of the men as they left the River Hamble (East of Portsmouth), standing on the bow, playing for all to hear. As his battalion waded ashore, Bill held his pipes above his head, his kilt (he was the only one wearing a kilt) floating around him until he reached the shore. Lord Lovat asked him to play, so Bill marched and played many traditional favorites: “Highland Laddie”, “The Road to the Isles” among others. A fellow soldier, Tom Duncan, remembered Bill years later, “(His piping) reminded us of home and why we were there fighting for our lives and those of our loved ones.”

So take a minute and silently remember the men and women who gave their lives for the cause of Freedom in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other conflicts around the world. Freedom isn’t free, and that freedom is often paid for in blood spilled on foreign beaches and lands, for you, and for me.