On June 6, 1944, and during the days that followed, men from all over the world came to fight in Normandy to defeat Nazism and re-establish freedom.  Normandy will bear the scars (the hallmarks of freedom) forever from that moment in history, and every year we remember and pay tribute to the veterans from America, Britain, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Poland, Australia, the French resistance, and their brothers in arms – those many heroes who lost their lives during that summer of 1944.

Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6 as 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults ever.  

Prior to D-Day, the Allies conducted a large-scale deception campaign which misled the Germans about the intended invasion target – it helped assure success.  Long before dawn on June 6, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground behind enemy lines, securing bridges and exit roads, and creating confusion for the enemy – actions that all helped. US Army Cavalry soldiers, at 4:45AM silently swam ashore the St. Marcoufs Islands…6000 yards off Utah Beach, armed only with knives to neutralize enemy prior to the main landings. The amphibious invasions began at 6:30AM.  British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword, as did Americans at Utah Beach. US forces faced heavy resistance at Omaha Beach, and suffered over 2,000 American casualties.  Omaha Beach was represented in the opening scenes of the film “Saving Private Ryan.”  Picture that in your mind – the surf turned red with blood, brave young men – each terribly afraid, but each moving forward doing his job.

By day’s end, allied troops successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches.  The cost was high; more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded in that one day.  But their sacrifice allowed the allies to begin the hard slog across Europe to defeat Adolf Hitler’s forces.

By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated; the Battle of the Bulge was next; but, by the following spring the Allies had defeated Hitler.  D-Day was the beginning-of-the-end of the war in Europe.

A memorial to D-Day sits upon 88 acres in Bedford, VA.  The center is a tall arch embellished with the name “Overlord;” the arch is highlighted by a reflecting pool and a scene symbolic of the arduous trudge soldiers made across blood stained beaches of Normandy.  

Why Bedford?  Bedford provided a company of soldiers to the US Army’s 29th Infantry Division that landed at Omaha Beach, and more soldiers to the First Infantry Division.  19 Bedford soldiers died in the D-Day invasion; 2 more Bedford soldiers died later in the Normandy campaign; and another 2 died fighting elsewhere.  Bedford’s population in 1944 was about 3,200 people; proportionally, Bedford suffered the nation’s severest D-Day losses of any city.

On June 6th, we honor our Nation, our Allies, and all who fought for victory…that Greatest Generation to whom we owe our freedom today!  Think about it.

On Monday May 27, Lions had a strong presence in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC.  Eighty Lions from Virginia, DC, Maryland, and Delaware walked or rode in the parade.  Ten clubs, including Fairfax, had banners in the parade.  Miss America and Miss Teen America rode on the Lions’ float.  Fairfax Lions Club was represented in the parade.

Fairfax Lions conducted vision screenings at The Lamb Center, May 13-14.  We worked with 23 Guests of The Lamb Center, successfully screening the vision of 21, and referred 12 (57%) for a complete eye exam.  57% referral rate is one of the highest we’ve experienced.  We suspect one Guest had cataracts and a considerable amount of damage in one eye.  Several guests were in their 70s and one guest who was 81.   The Fairfax Lions Club is proud to help others in our community with this vision screening service.

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and area food bank inventories will soon take a dip, as food-insecure families look for help in feeding their children during the summer months. Once again, Fairfax Lions Club stepped up to meet this community need.

At the Lions May 7th dinner meeting, many members generously responded to this need by digging into their personal home pantries and bringing shelf-safe food to the meeting. Food (canned chicken and tuna) was also purchased with the remaining Food Basket Delivery program account balance for this year. In total, Fairfax Lions delivered 144 pounds of nutritious food to Food for Others food bank on May 9.

We care – We serve!!

Fairfax Lions made our community more beautiful on Saturday, April 20, by picking up litter along our “Adopt-A-Spot” section of Pickett Road.  With unpredictable weather that morning, we had  breakfast at First Watch in the Fair City Mall.  At 8:45, the sun was out so all said, “Let’s do it!”  At the ball field, across from the intersection of Pickett Road & Old Pickett Road, we met other Lions and family.  We handed out “grabbers,” safety vests, and plastic garbage bags, and went to work.

Mission complete:  the entire job was finished by 11:30, including bagging up all trash in the large orange bags the City provided. Those bags were scheduled for pick up by 1:00 Saturday.  All Done!!!  Fairfax Lions – we serve our community!

On April 10th, the Fairfax Lions hosted – and supported – a Red Cross Blood Drive.  The best reason to donate blood:  every blood unit you give can save up to three lives.  (Blood in processed by the Red Cross into 3 parts – plasma/platelets/red blood cells – each saving a life.)  

Mark your calendars for the next blood drive:  September 23rd!