Lessons from Normandy
June 11, 2024The Cornerstone that is Communications: Lessons from Normandy
The White House Fellows recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of one of the greatest collaborative communications efforts in history with a visit to Amsterdam, Belgium and Normandy, and a beloved Sunwester had the privilege of attending.
June 6, 2024, was the 80th anniversary of D-Day.This day was incredibly significant for a multitude of reasons: one being that in 1944, the allied nations were able to successfully come together to carry out the largest amphibious invasion in military history. Through effective communication, nearly one million troops from varying countries were able to successfully complete this mission together.
Sunwester Merrie Speath joined the White House Fellows this summer to study the US relationship with the EU, the current state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and to watch and participate in the anniversary celebration of D-Day.
During her time working as President Reagan’s Director of Media Relations, Merrie Speath was one of 17 accepted into the White House Fellowship program, an opportunity allowing young professionals to get experience and work alongside the highest level of individuals in the Federal Government. As an alumni of this esteemed program, Merrie was invited to attend the 80th anniversary trip and connect with other leaders.
Merrie learned some important lessons while visiting historical landmarks such as the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, La Cambe German War Cemetery, Utah and Dunkirk beach, Operation Overlord Museum and more.
- After meeting at NATO HQ, it is safe to say that every American should learn more about NATO. These relationships are of utmost importance, and hearing about the bravery of other countries, like the Ukraine, is inspiring. The courage of NATO countries is a model for all who believe freedom is worth fighting for.
- At the American cemetery, the impact of seeing the 9,000 crosses of those who gave “the last full measure of devotion” is beyond words. Pictures don’t even convey the impact. In contrast, the German cemetery had a respectful but brutal impact. There’s a wall with a narrow arched entrance that visitors enter one-by-one exemplifying the individual battle with evil. These places remind us of the heroism, determination, devastation and struggle that were a result of the war.
- Continue to educate yourself by reading more, getting below the news and adding a visit to Normandy to your bucket list. Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
At Sunwest, we pride ourselves with having an extremely knowledgeable, well-versed and highly experienced team. Merrie Spaeth is no exception. We are lucky to have her acclaimed Spaeth Training here at Sunwest Communications. Need a better way of communicating your story or want to work with Merrie herself? Please visit this link for more information on how we can help you!
