In World War II, the very survival of Western civilization was at stake. In freedom’s darkest hour, America’s finest, and those of Allied Nations, embarked on the Normandy invasion to save the Free World. Of the some 133,000 troops who landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944, casualties would number approximately 10,300.

I am concerned that many of our younger generation don’t understand what it really means to be an American and don’t have an appreciation of what our men and women in uniform have done over the years to give us the freedom we enjoy today.

Unfortunately, we don’t emphasize American history and civics in our schools like we used to. A recent study found that 22% of millennials weren’t sure if they knew what the Holocaust was. And 67% had not heard of Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp were more than a million Jews and others were murdered.

The great Anglican evangelist, Dr. John Guest, says that there is a “battle going on for the soul of America.” Guest, who spent many a night in a London air raid shelter as a boy, wonders what those who gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy would say if they saw what was going on today.

As we observe the 80th anniversary of D-Day, it is important that young Americans and future generations understand the significance of D-Day, and the sacrifices made by their countrymen so that they live in a free country today.

To honor those who came ashore at Normandy under heavy Nazi gunfire, several U.S. Military veterans who currently serve in the U.S Congress will jump out of an actual World War II C-47 transport plane into Normandy on Friday. The Congressional veteran parachutists will also all be wearing vintage WWII uniforms.

These military veterans who currently serve in the U.S House of Representatives are: Jason Crow, Michael Waltz, Mark Green, Dan Crenshaw, Rich McCormick, Derek Van Orden, Keith Self, Darrell Issa, Ronny Jackson and Cory Mills.

The group includes a Green Beret, an Army Ranger, an Army sniper, a Marine Corps helicopter pilot, and two military physicians. These members of Congress have trained for the jump to make sure it goes off without a hitch.

In addition, these members of Congress took to social media to tell the story of D-Day throughout the week so that the current generation of young Americans appreciate the sacrifices made by our “Greatest Generation.”

For example, Congressman Rich McCormick is telling the story of Point du Hoc where, between Omaha and Utah beaches, some 225 Army Rangers scaled the cliffs to take back the first land occupied by Nazi Germany. After two days of fighting, only 90 remained.

Congressman Mark Green is telling the story that throughout history, most countries that invade another nation have kept the land, but the United States has only ever asked for a place to bury our fallen. Accordingly, he thanks France for giving us the land there at Normandy to honor America’s sons and daughters who perished on D-Day.

Congressman Mike Waltz is telling the story of the heroic jumps made behind German lines the night before D-Day in order to sow chaos and seize key bridges. The airborne soldiers were surrounded, but as Congressman Waltz points out, they were ordered to hold their ground until the last man, and they did.

President Ronald Reagan was right when he reminded us, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Our nation’s 40th president went on to say, “We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

The story of D-Day, and the story of the “Greatest Generation” and what they did to save the Free World, is an American story of courage, selfless service, commitment to duty and love of country. It is a story that must be told to this and future generations.

Yes, education is a national security issue. And I, for one, am thankful that we have patriots in the United States Congress who have served their country in uniform and are now leading the way in telling this great American story to our current generation.

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