As a young man, just before D-Day, I remember being very hungry, as we in England were rationed with our food due to the U-boats of Germany. Then came food from America, tins of meat called Spam, and dried egg powder. These were lifesavers to a country that was very short of food.
I would like to say thank you to all Americans who worked so hard to provide us with the food we so sorely needed in those troubled times. Just before D-Day our streets were filled with American troops waiting to go to France, to help us win the war against enemies of the peace. My friends and I used to cycle to our pubs, to buy cider and beer for these young men about to face a horror they had never dreamed of. We used to chat to them.
One young chap was making a ring from a silver coin; some of them were writing letters home, a home they would never see again.
One young man told us his name was Chicago Staff Sgt. Michael Jerome Kowolski. He was so proud to say Chicago; I hope Chicago was proud of him.
Years later, on holiday in France with my family, we saw the graves of young men, young men just like the ones we used to talk to. As I stood there, quietly meditating, I wondered whether Michael was here or the young chap making the ring. What about the ones writing letters home? Were they here or did they make it home at last?
Without their help Russian tanks would have rolled through Europe. Without your mighty nuclear arsenal and your air force, Europe would have never been freed.
I would like to thank millions of Americans who worked long hours day and night to produce all the things a free world needed, from food to ships, tanks, planes, guns and many other things I would not have known about. Thank you to Hollywood for making so many films to keep up morale.
America, after protecting so many nations and their people over the years, it is now time to protect yourself.
Thank you once more and God bless you all.
