Eighty Years On

Back on the beaches of Normandy The old men are assembled there On walking sticks or Zimmer frames Some confined to their wheelchair, This diminishing band of heroes, Survivors from eighty years before Who by ship, parachute and glider Were transported to the horror of war. Now sitting with a quiet dignity to Remember the beginning of the end The blood, pain, swear and tears The loss of comrade and friend. For many maybe the last chance To visit those beaches again This slowly dwindling band Of valiant and proud old men. They are there to receive tribute For the sacrifice so many made, To appear before a grateful world On this their maybe last Parade. Many years ago a promise spoken Which has been faithfully met For your suffering and sacrifice We pledge again we’ll not forget. 6th June 1944 nearly 160 thousand allied troops landed on the beaches at Normandy to start the beginning of the end of WW2 in Europe. The largest Naval invasion in history. In addition more landed by glider and parachute. D-Day had begun.