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FW: Putting It In Perspective
Jun. 7th, 2004 08:46 amFrom: Bathrick, Mark CAPT NAES Lakehurst 150, 2, n/a
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 7:08 AM
To: LKHR All Hands
Subject: Putting It In Perspective
Importance: High
Navy Lakehurst,
On Friday, I had the distinct pleasure of representing you at an Ocean County remembrance ceremony, held in honor of those county veterans who participated in the D-Day invasion, 60 years ago. In all, about 110 Ocean County D-Day veterans were present. I was also afforded the rare privilege of shaking their hands as each came forward to accept their personalized certificate of appreciation from the county. I was struck by their universally firm handshakes, their still vibrant sense of duty, their still fervent patriotism, and the unanimous humility toward their individual contributions to this pivotal event in modern world history that each expressed as they moved through the line of local dignitaries who congratulated them for their service. I was also deeply humbled as these genuine American Heroes thanked me and fellow service men and women of today for our continued service; a service which they inspired.
Following the ceremony, I had the opportunity to talk with many of the D-Day veterans about their experiences on that fateful day, 60 years ago. Most were mere teenagers then, many having lied about their age in order to volunteer to fight. Even at that young age, they understood they were part of something far greater than themselves; their sacrifices of the normal comforts of life and time with family, paled in their minds to the global war against tyranny and the principals for which they fought. Their stories of battling the sea, the terrain, and the relentless enemy on beaches named Omaha and Utah and on the cliffs of Point-Du-Hoc, witnessing scores of their comrades being cut down in the prime of life (6,500 Americans were killed on that single day of the invasion) left me with a profound sense of respect and reverence for what they had so willingly sacrificed and what they had fought so hard to achieve (liberty for people oppressed by tyranny).
The heroes of D-Day, like the rest of their "Greatest Generation", sacrificed greatly in standing up to the tyranny of those nations who advocated the domination of the world and the eradication of all those who did not share or submit to their beliefs.
Today, our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines battle not the tyranny of nations, but the tyranny of terrorists who seek to dominate the world with their radical views and to eradicate all those who do not share or submit to their narrow beliefs. Although this Global War on Terrorism has not yet required of us the level of sacrifice borne by the D-Day and other World War II veterans, the seriousness of this struggle necessitates that some sacrifices be endured.
We too, here at home, share in this battle. The first battle in the Global War on Terrorism began not far from Lakehurst and on that day, claimed over 3,000 American lives, including one of Lakehurst's own. We know first hand, the pain of loss and the virtue of sacrifice in this world-wide battle against those who seek to destroy the beacon of liberty, equality, and justice for all that America represents.
Each of us have recently experienced some measure of frustration over the uncertainty and/or realization of the minor sacrifices we have been asked to shoulder in support of this global struggle. For me, the chance to meet and honor Ocean County's D-Day heroes has put these small sacrifices in proper perspective.
Change is never easy, but I ask each of you to keep these minor sacrifices in the perspective of those of the Greatest Generation who sacrificed far more on the beaches of Normandy, 60 years ago in another war against global tyranny. Working together, as the Lakehurst Team that has this year alone been honored with the Dale Carnegie International Leadership Award, the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation, I am confident that we can bear these burdens with the same style and grace for which Lakehurst is renown, while also transforming these challenges into opportunities that will benefit us all in the long term.
With the greatest respect and admiration,
CO
CAPT Mark L. "Monk" Bathrick, USN
Commanding Officer
Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst
Navy Lakehurst - "A Heritage of Service, A Model for the Future"
2004 COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S INSTALLATION EXCELLENCE AWARD.
2004 Dale Carnegie International Leadership Award.
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, 2004.
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 7:08 AM
To: LKHR All Hands
Subject: Putting It In Perspective
Importance: High
Navy Lakehurst,
On Friday, I had the distinct pleasure of representing you at an Ocean County remembrance ceremony, held in honor of those county veterans who participated in the D-Day invasion, 60 years ago. In all, about 110 Ocean County D-Day veterans were present. I was also afforded the rare privilege of shaking their hands as each came forward to accept their personalized certificate of appreciation from the county. I was struck by their universally firm handshakes, their still vibrant sense of duty, their still fervent patriotism, and the unanimous humility toward their individual contributions to this pivotal event in modern world history that each expressed as they moved through the line of local dignitaries who congratulated them for their service. I was also deeply humbled as these genuine American Heroes thanked me and fellow service men and women of today for our continued service; a service which they inspired.
Following the ceremony, I had the opportunity to talk with many of the D-Day veterans about their experiences on that fateful day, 60 years ago. Most were mere teenagers then, many having lied about their age in order to volunteer to fight. Even at that young age, they understood they were part of something far greater than themselves; their sacrifices of the normal comforts of life and time with family, paled in their minds to the global war against tyranny and the principals for which they fought. Their stories of battling the sea, the terrain, and the relentless enemy on beaches named Omaha and Utah and on the cliffs of Point-Du-Hoc, witnessing scores of their comrades being cut down in the prime of life (6,500 Americans were killed on that single day of the invasion) left me with a profound sense of respect and reverence for what they had so willingly sacrificed and what they had fought so hard to achieve (liberty for people oppressed by tyranny).
The heroes of D-Day, like the rest of their "Greatest Generation", sacrificed greatly in standing up to the tyranny of those nations who advocated the domination of the world and the eradication of all those who did not share or submit to their beliefs.
Today, our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines battle not the tyranny of nations, but the tyranny of terrorists who seek to dominate the world with their radical views and to eradicate all those who do not share or submit to their narrow beliefs. Although this Global War on Terrorism has not yet required of us the level of sacrifice borne by the D-Day and other World War II veterans, the seriousness of this struggle necessitates that some sacrifices be endured.
We too, here at home, share in this battle. The first battle in the Global War on Terrorism began not far from Lakehurst and on that day, claimed over 3,000 American lives, including one of Lakehurst's own. We know first hand, the pain of loss and the virtue of sacrifice in this world-wide battle against those who seek to destroy the beacon of liberty, equality, and justice for all that America represents.
Each of us have recently experienced some measure of frustration over the uncertainty and/or realization of the minor sacrifices we have been asked to shoulder in support of this global struggle. For me, the chance to meet and honor Ocean County's D-Day heroes has put these small sacrifices in proper perspective.
Change is never easy, but I ask each of you to keep these minor sacrifices in the perspective of those of the Greatest Generation who sacrificed far more on the beaches of Normandy, 60 years ago in another war against global tyranny. Working together, as the Lakehurst Team that has this year alone been honored with the Dale Carnegie International Leadership Award, the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation, I am confident that we can bear these burdens with the same style and grace for which Lakehurst is renown, while also transforming these challenges into opportunities that will benefit us all in the long term.
With the greatest respect and admiration,
CO
CAPT Mark L. "Monk" Bathrick, USN
Commanding Officer
Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst
Navy Lakehurst - "A Heritage of Service, A Model for the Future"
2004 COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S INSTALLATION EXCELLENCE AWARD.
2004 Dale Carnegie International Leadership Award.
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, 2004.
