D-Day 70 Year Anniversary

US Army troops wade ashore on Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944.

The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the air and amphibious landings that took place 70 years ago on 6 June 1944. The Allies invaded France, partly possible because the Battle of Brittan has been won and air superiority achieved. The Normandy landings are known as “D-Day”; but the term actually refers to the day a combat operation commences but has become synonymous with 6 June 1944. Some 11 hard fought months later, Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered. This was known as Victory in Europe Day (8 May 1945), generally known as V-E Day, VE Day, or simply V Day. Three months after V Day, Japan also surrendered closing the war. That surrender took place on USS Missouri and was received by General Douglas MacArthur who was a Freemason.

D-day was the largest seaborne invasion in history, beginning the invasion of German-occupied western Europe and unequivocally contributed to an Allied victory in the European Theatre.

As with most great events in Western History, Freemason had a role to play. On D-Day two Masons from New York found themselves playing the leading roles. Brother Omar Bradley General in over all command of US Force and senior US General in command of ground troops, a duty he would hold till the end of the war. Brother Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was the first General to hit the beach that day, (landing with the first wave). For action on D-Day he won the Medal of Honor.

Franklin D. Roosevelt President of the USA during the War and when the D-Day Landings occurred was a Freemason and was very supportive of Freemasonry.

The following USA President, Harry S. Truman was also a Freemason, Initiated in 1909 he was a PM of Grandview Lodge #618 and Grand Master of Missouri 1940-1941.

During the height of the Second World War, Truman made a special appearance in the newsreels being shown in movie theatres all over America. He said, in part: “At this very moment, in foxholes and on shipboard, beneath the sea and in the air, countless hands are being clasped in fraternal recognition of each other in the darkness as well as in the daylight. And countless fathers, bravely wishing God-speed to their departing sons, are saying ‘Boy, when your hour of darkness and loneliness comes, find a Freemason, and tell him you are the son of a Freemason, and you’ll find a friend.’”

Of course the Prime Minister of England of the time, Sir Winston Churchill, was another Brother.

I’m sure there are many other interesting Masonic Facts about D-Day – please send them in !

Lest we Forget.

USA President FD Roosevelt in Masonic Regalia. You can click on the above for a closer look

USA President Harry Truman in Masonic Regalia