Cassandra Gardiner returns with this week’s offering. Guest opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. Ed
Tuesday or Tiw’s Day (Old English) is the God of single combat, victory and heroic glory in Norse mythology. Before being re-named, Tuesday was known as dies Martis, latin for the day of Mars, attributed to Mars the God of War .
Thursday, catching glimpses of the Red Arrows, re-grouping, flying death-defyingly low across the Island, displaying formations and agility over the Solent, the skill and sheer brilliance of these pilots and their planes was mesmerising
The day before, Wednesday, hearing thunder in the skies, scanning the sky for at least a minute, wondering what is this noise? Appearing from the south-west, came a fleet of propellor-driven aircraft, passing overhead so close tail markings were clear. How these stately craft defied gravity left me pondering the absolute genius of engineers, like Henry Royce, working tirelessly to create such magnificent beasts.
Friday morning, listening to Radio 2, amongst many tributes, news stories and discussions, an old soldier taking his time, begins recalling and sharing two memories. Waiting his turn, the two men before him missed their jump from the ship’s platform into the landing craft. Approaching the shore, only one thing was on his mind ‘Getting the hell off the beach’.
Before his choice of music was played he shared his other memory of that time. Returning home from a date with his girlfriend, he purchased the sheet music of a popular song, to remind him of their wonderful evening together – adding you couldn’t buy recordings and CD’s then. He still has the sheet music.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, D-Day, memoratus in aeternum.
To read more of Cassandra Gardiner‘s work, visit her blog.
Image: puuikibech under CC BY 2.0
