September 11, 2012 - Historic events in America

September 11, 2001 is a day that those of us that are old enough to have lived through it will never forget.  There have been few events throughout America's history that should never be forgotten by those that lived through them.  However, the further we move away from these events, they less we tend to remember them.  How many people still remember what happened on December 7th, how about April 19 or November 22nd?

• December 7, 1941 - the bombing of Pearl Harbor
• November 22, 1963 - the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
• April 19, 1995 - the Oklahoma City bombing

These are all tragic events that happened in America, but if you were to go up to your random person on the street and ask them about these dates, how many would even remember?  There are many other important events in America's history and the history of the world that many people have no idea when they are.  This is a travesty.  To forget the important events in our history, is to forget the people that put their lives on the line.  The old saying is that history repeats itself.  History can only repeat itself because we forget and allow it to happen.  We must remember to events that have formed this country, good and bad, and embrace them.  Remember the men and women that served this country and even gave their lives.

•  D-Day, June 6, 1944 - 160,000 Allied troops land on a 50-mile stretch on heavily fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France.  More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded.

• V-J Day, August 14, 1945 - Victory over Japan Day.  The day it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II.  Japan's formal surrender took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri on September 2, 1945.  

• July 5, 1950 - July 27, 1953 the Korean War. The first battle between the U.S. Army and the North Korean People's Army to the Armistice signed at Panmunjam with the withdraw to create the demilitarized zone between the two Korean regimes which remains to this day.    

• April 4, 1968 - The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. by James Earl Ray.  "He is the first person in the Western world to have shown us that a struggle can be waged without violence.  He is the first to make the message of brotherly love a reality in the course of his struggle, and he has brought this message to all men, to all nations and races." - Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee.

• August 8, 1974 - The announcement of resignation by President Richard M. Nixon.  Nixon retired as Congress began to investigate Watergate and it became clear that Nixon had been personally involved to such an extent that impeachment and conviction were likely.

• April 29, 1975 - The Fall of Saigon.  The outskirts of Saigon were reached by the North Vietnamese Army and the US knew that their presence int he city would quickly become unwelcome.  Remaining Americans were evacuated by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft. 

• June 12, 1987 - President Ronald Reagan's speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin.  "There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace.  General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate!  Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!  Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

There are many other events in our history that I could talk about.  In fact, I could probably spend the rest of the year just discussing America's history.  We need to move forward, yet never forget our past.  Tonight, say a prayer for all the brave men and women that came before us, and all of those that will come after.  America is built on the hopes and dreams of the American people and will prosper as long as brave Americans are eager and willing to pursue these dreams with all their might.  May God Bless America.