Chapter 56-Remembering D-Day
By: MysticFantasy
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James squinted his eyes as the bright sunlight hit them. He wished he had brought his sunglasses with him but he didn't think they would be appropriate at this ceremony.
He stood with his mother, both dressed formally, as his father stood in his World War Two uniform alongside other men who had survived the war and were still alive to honor the seventieth anniversary of D-Day.
The young teen observed the survivors that stood with his father. He would always be amazed that his father looked so much younger than the men but was really the same age as them and may have very well fought along side them.
James knew that his dad had been a little emotional the past week as this day had drawn closer.
As a survivor of World War Two and Captain America, Steve had been invited to the ceremony and was asked to say a few words about the day that the American troops had landed on the shores of Normandy.
Several pictures were placed around, showing everyone the famous scene of the troops storming the French beach and several others of soldiers fighting and of Captain America leading more soldiers.
Finally, Steve was asked to say a few words.
James could hear cameras clicking and saw the news cameras zoom in to get the best shot.
"Hello everyone. Thank you for attending this ceremony in remembering when the American forces landed on the shores of Normandy. As many of you know, the Howling Commando's and I were present that day. I was aboard one of the first ships that landed. The fight to get past the first wave of attacks was not easy. Many men fell before they could get a few yards and some fell before they could even get off the boats. I witnessed so many soldiers of every allied country fall. More than half of them were never recovered. They will forever be remembered as soldiers who gave their lives in the line of duty. To their families, I've prayed that they've found comfort. To the families of the men who were able to make it back, know that you have heroics in your bloodline. They were able to return to tell the tale of how the allies were able to win that battle and how they helped end the war. Today, with my family and all the families of all the brave soldiers, we remember everyone who was involved in the storming of Normandy. Today is the seventy year anniversary of both brave sacrifice and victory. "
Everyone clapped as the super soldier stepped away from the podium and the remaining survivors had their chance to speak about their experiences during the war.
James lightly smiled the entire time. He heard his father talk about the day that the allies arrived in Normandy and how they were right away under attack. He heard about the weather that almost delayed the attack but it went through anyway.
The details that he heard come from his father's stories were clear but suitable for him to know. He learned about it in school too but he liked to hear it directly from someone who had been there.
The ceremony soon ended and everyone began to head home.
James walked next to his father as they walked to the limo that Tony had insisted they take.
"Does it seem so long ago that you were on that beach, dad?" he asked.
"Actually, it does and it doesn't." Steve answered. "It does feel like I was just there with everyone else, ready to lay my life down in the name of taking down the enemy. But now it seems like it was so long ago."
"All of your adventures with the Avengers and having a family make it seem like it was a long time ago." Natasha added as she looped her arm through her husbands.
Steve lightly chuckled and wrapped his free arm around James' shoulders.
"Regardless of how much time has passed, it's all something that helped me be the person I am today and allowed me to have the life I now possess. I will forever remember and be grateful to the soldiers I fought with on D-Day and I am happy that I was able to have the life I always wanted in this time."
James smiled happily.
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Big thanks to the brave people who fought on D-Day seventy years ago.