At about this time , on the eve of June 6, 1944, if you were a young Allied soldier on the beaches of Normandy, you might be counting your blessings that you were still alive, and not one of the 9000 or so casualties. And "Ike and "Monty" thankfully that the chance they took had come well. If you were a German General and had the foresight of a Rommel, you might realize that the end of the war and Germany's defeat was at hand, though not without a lot more fighting and dying. If you were a German soldier you might wonder where the reinforcements were and how much longer and if at all you had to live.

And if you were French, it would be a long awaited moment of pride and hope, 68 years ago today.