Today wraps up 3 days of international celebration and remembrance of D-Day on the beaches of Normandy on the coast of France.
Most of you might remember this brutal WWII battle being depicted in the opening scene of the movie "Saving Private Ryan".
The Shireman family also remembers one of our own lost that bloody day.
Earl "Wayne" Shireman was 23 years old when he lost his life on June 6, 1944 fighting on the assault on Omaha Beach and the scaling of the cliffs at Pointe de Huc.
Wayne was one of the first volunteers to join the Rangers, a newly formed unit of elite US Army infantry. Of the 225 men in the 2nd battalion, only 90 were able to continue fighting two days later.
The Ranger battalion's heroism in capturing the big German guns saved many lives on adjacent beaches.
Wayne's death deeply affected my grandfather, James L. Shireman. After learning of his brother's loss he lied about his age and joined the Marines. He wanted to get revenge on the Germans, but ended up fighting in the Pacific theater instead. Luckily, Grandpa Jim made it back alive.
We remember Wayne on this 70th anniversary of his loss. As their motto says: "Rangers lead the Way!"
