The world recently celebrated the 57th anniversary of the allied landing in Normandy, France, by American, British and Canadian armed forces. I was fortunate to be in Normandy on June 5 and 6 to attend the ceremonies, and I visited the beaches and towns where so many valiant young men fought and forfeited their lives in World War II. I also met Howard Huggett, a former member of the 101st Airborne, and listened as he recalled how he parachuted into a field just outside the town of St. Mere-Eglise during the early morning hours of June 6. In the movie "The Longest Day," parachutist John Steele landed on the steeple of that church in St. Mere-Eglise. So what's an editorial about the allied landing at Normandy doing in a semiconductor industry publication? Simply this: The freedom we won at the cost of thousands of lives, on the beaches of a little-known city in France, has carried over into each of our everyday lives. You can't see it. You can't touch it. But believe me, it's with each of us. Most of you were not even born by D-Day, but nonetheless, it's a great story that needs to be remembered, told and retold, and passed on to future generations. If it were not for men like Howard and John Steel-and the men and women who never returned from those bloodied shores across the Atlantic and the Pacific-the quality of life that we take for granted today would not exist. Our vibrant electronics industry, which is fueling the economics of the world, owes a special debt of gratitude to the unsung heroes of every battle, every conflict and every war on every foreign shore. After all, how many of us have not benefited from the freedoms passed on to us by those who answered the call of duty? When I returned from Normandy, I wanted to unfurl the American flag and repeat what Howard told me, "Remember us and the sacrifices that were made on Juno, Omaha, Utah and Sword Beaches to keep America and the world free." I'll never forget those sacrifices, Howard. Nor will I forget the civics lesson you taught us 57 years later, as we stood near the crashing, thundering waves, haunted by the images of our brave and now-silent comrades. Please share your thoughts with me at gselven@ChipScaleReview.com. 
Gene Selven, Publisher |
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