Many Americans go to the beach to vacation and relax, beaches named Miami, Rosemary, Myrtle, and Wrightsville. I do, too. They are beautiful and fun. But my preferred beaches were once covered in blood and wounded examples of service and sacrifice—Allied soldiers, Americans. I am drawn to beaches with names like Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword, and Gold. These beaches are now peaceful, sacred strips of land where children play and families swim. They were once home to chaos and death, the fog of war. They stir deep emotions. They demand reflection and gratitude. They remind, sadden, and motivate me. Operation Overlord and the June 6, 1944, landing on the beaches of Normandy France was the largest and most consequential military operation in the history of man. Today we reflect on the North Star values that led the United States to sacrifice so much, not for conquest, but to ensure freedom for the world. American soldiers embarked on the amphibious landing almost certain they would die, and so many did. So much of what each generation needs to thrive was exemplified on the beaches of Normandy: selflessness, grit, determination, courage, faith, moral absolutes, love of freedom, love of neighbor, intelligence, coalition building, discipline, self-discipline, commitment, and hard work. Today and every day we honor those who served on June 6, 1944. We owe them a debt we can never repay.