Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:05:31 -0400
From: "Michael Walsh" <mjw at press.jhu.edu>
To: "WSFA members" <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>, <wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Saturday after 1st Friday
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have =
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes =
and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company =
with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring =
about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi =
tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves =
in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well =
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of =
1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, =
in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their =
strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home =
Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions =
of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. =
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to =
Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in =
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great =
and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower

http://www.kansasheritage.org/abilene/graphics/ikesmessage.jpg

    He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
    Will stand a-tiptoe when the day is named,
    And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
    He that shall see this day and live t'old age,
    Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
    And say "To-morrow is Saint Crispian":
    Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars
    And say "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
    Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
    But he'll remember with advantages
    What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
    Familiar in his mouth as household words
    Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
    Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
    Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
    This story shall the good man teach his son;
    And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
    From this day to the ending of the world,
    But we in it shall be remembered;
    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he today that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition:
    And gentlemen in England now abed
    Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

& http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptqev-KEmhU