Earlier this week, our nation marked one of the most important dates in its history — June 6, 1944.

D-Day, as it became to be known, was day that approximately 160,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, as troops invaded the Nazi-occupied territory.

Anyone remotely familiar with history knows how tremendously awful the odds were that day — troops were landing on the beaches and being mowed down by German machine-gun fire.

The numbers of the day were staggering.

More than 5,000 ships were involved in the attack, along with 13,000 aircraft.

Estimates indicate more than 4,400 Allied soldiers were killed that day.

The invasion was bloody and ugly, but successful. The sacrifice the brave men gave that day allowed a foothold into continental Europe, which ultimately led to the fall of the Axis powers.

Seventy-three years later, we remain in awe of the great bravery and sacrifices shown that day.

As we look at world politics and potential strife around the world, we hope and pray that should another D-Day effort be required to protect freedom, that our modern world would show the same resolve, determination and guts.