What Steve said . . .

Steve Benen: D-DAY...

If you missed President Obama's speech at Omaha Beach this [yesterday] morning, I think it's worth watching.

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"It was unknowable then, but so much of the progress that would define the 20th century, on both sides of the Atlantic, came down to the battle for a slice of beach only six miles long and two miles wide," Obama said.

Pay particular attention to the story, towards the end of the speech, of Jim Norene, who fought on D-Day as a member of the 101st Airborne Division. "Last night, after visiting this cemetery for one last time, he passed away in his sleep," the president said. "Jim was gravely ill when he left his home, and he knew that he might not return. But just as he did 65 years ago, he came anyway. May he now rest in peace with the boys he once bled with, and may his family always find solace in the heroism he showed here."