June 6 is the 81st anniversary of D-Day. On the 50th anniversary, I flew to Paris by myself and took a train to Normandy. Using high school French, I asked the only man on my train car for directions. He invited me to lunch at his house to meet his dad, a member of the French Resistance. After lunch, they took me to the train station, and I headed northwest.

I met some Frenchmen who took me to the drop zone, where I saw World War II paratroopers jump from C-47s and land at my feet. A family invited me to stay in their manor in Carentan.

Next, I hitched a ride to Omaha Beach. Because of the badge I had representing my WWII veteran dad, I was invited to sit with the D-Day veterans. President Bill Clinton asked all the D-Day veterans who could stand to do so. The heroes of D-Day stood all a

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