Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 6, 1994 TAG: 9406060052
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ABOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
On the deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Clinton recalled the servicemen who embarked a half-century ago, borne by thousands of ships, in the invasion that foretold the defeat of Nazi Germany.
"Imagine how they must have felt, in choppy seas and bad weather," he told the crew. "Imagine how they must have looked to the enemy when they came across the horizon."
The lesson for today, he said, is that "if the Allies would stay together and stay strong, we would never need another D-Day."
With leaders from other World War II Allied nations, Clinton joined in pageantry and ritual aboard the royal yacht Britannia, then reviewed ships at anchor in sunny, windy Portsmouth Harbor.
An armada of small boats joined the procession, hundreds of them churning a lacework of wakes across the choppy outer harbor.
"We're here with these sporting vessels because of what we did 50 years ago," Clinton said later. "Our system and our values prevailed."
More than 100 warplanes roared overhead in a massive flyby - modern jets from 12 nations, World War II fighters and bombers from the United States and Britain.
The Britannia sailed past 23 ships in the harbor procession, Queen Elizabeth II and her guests taking their salutes. British sailors lined their rails with white hats in outstretched hands to shout hoorays in unison as the vessel passed.
When the Britannia raced past the George Washington, U.S. sailors tipped their hats and cheered in the British manner. "Hip, hip, hip," came the voice on the loudspeaker. "Hooray," the sailors shouted together.
On the deck, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretian took the opportunity to talk with Clinton about issues involving their two governments. "We talked about wheat and fish and Bosnia," he said later.
After the review, the president and his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, transferred to a U.S. Navy launch - not a simple undertaking in the choppy waters - to board the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, which made 11 shuttle voyages to the Normandy beachheads after the invasion. Mothballed after the war, the O'Brien was reconditioned by volunteers 15 years ago and became a national Liberty ship memorial, the only one still sailing.
A volunteer crew, ages 19 to 78, sailed the O'Brien from San Francisco to Portsmouth for the D-Day anniversary. The new U.S. Merchant Marine flag was hoisted for the first time at sea after the president boarded.
"It's the greatest day in my 51 years in the service," said retired Rear Adm. Thomas Patterson, who escorted the Clintons.
Then the Clintons boarded the George Washington for the five-hour voyage to the French coast for D-Day ceremonies at the invasion beaches and the American cemetery at Colleville.
"As we honor those who served in World War II, we must also honor those of you who serve now, who are continuing the legacy they left us . . ." Clinton said in his address to the George Washington crew.
"Even though the Cold War is over, we are still on the eve of great endeavors - not to turn back armies of oppression which threaten our very existence, but to protect our safety and security and to expand the blessings of liberty."
Clinton said that in that undertaking, "I am committed unequivocally, absolutely, to ensuring that you continue to have what you need to do your job."
Asked to sum up what he was experiencing, Clinton said:
"You know what encapsulates this all for me? Eisenhower's words, in which he said that D-Day was the fury of an aroused democracy."
Clinton was asked in an interview on ABC whether his avoidance of the draft during the Vietnam War cast doubts about his role as commander in chief.
"We can't rewrite history," he said. "We can only live in a time and place in which you are and I am doing my best to do a good job and be faithful to my duties as commander in chief."
by CNB