The Gift of Ordinary Days

June 6th is the 80th anniversary of D Day, code named, Overlord.

It seems the significance of this date, which led to the freedom of half the world, is fading with each generation. In Bayview Cemetery, Morehead City, stands a monolith which list the names of the noble Carteret County men and women who left home during that war to serve our country. I like to think of them of my soldiers as I read each name. I was three years old when our Promise Land men and women left the shores of Bogue Sound to do their part for our freedom in WWll. I don’t know them all, but I am so proud of them.

One of the names I do know Ray McDonald Guthrie, son of Agnew and Clara Guthrie, who served in the US Navy aboard the USS Hull. On December 18th, 1944, during a typhoon the ship went down and Ray McDonald Guthrie was lost in the Philippine Sea. At home, a fishing boat, named The La Mer, built for Ray’s homecoming, sat in the backyard. A Gold Star, hanging in the window, became a daily reminder to the family that Ray was not coming home.

During the invasion 73,000 Allied forces were killed. Many sacrifices were accepted on the altar of Normandy Beach that day on June 6th, 1944. The eternal fire of Mt. Sinai swept across the red streaked tide line ordaining it sacred ground.

Our beautiful beaches here in Carteret County accommodate vacationers trying to escape the daily humdrum routine of their lives. Boats, picnics, barbecue, games and family reunions will occur. Ordinary days will be forgotten for a day. I pray we will never forget the high cost of these ordinary days paid on the beaches of Normandy. Ordinary days, just ordinary days...how precious they are.

Ross Parker and Hughie Charles composed, “We’ll meet Again" in 1943. Vera Lynn’s nostalgic recording emits a song of peace for all nations. At the time it particularly resonated with our warriors leaving home with a hope for the future.

We’ll meet again

Don’t know where

Don’t know when

But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day.

Keep smiling through

Just like you always do

‘Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.

So will you please say hello

to the folks that I know

Tell them I won’t be long

They’ll be happy to know

That as you saw me go

I was singing this song.

We’ll meet again

Don’t know where

Don’t know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day.

Ray, I hope we do meet again some day, sunny or otherwise. Until then, I'll remember you with gratitude as I celebrate ordinary days.