It is fitting that Ronald Reagan passed away on the eve of the 60th anniversary of D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, Allied forces did not just begin the liberation of Europe, they began the saving of the world. As we commemorate those brave young men who gave up their futures for ours, let us hope that on the 100th anniversary, the aura and significance is not lost on anyone.

In 1944 the greatest evil the world had ever faced was Nazism. Shortly after the end of World War 2, the world faced an even more dangerous enemy and greater evil. Soviet-style Stalinist communism was every bit as evil as Hitler's Nazism, and it was made even more dangerous by the "useful idiots" in the west. The Russian campaign from 1941-1945 was bad guys versus bad guys, and the bad guys won. We saw what happened to Eastern Europe under Soviet domination. The Berlin Wall, Budapest 1956, Prague 1968, the gulags, the exporting of totalitarianism, and 100's of millions dead under the hammer and sickle are testament to the evil that replaced the Nazis.

Winston Churchill understood this in his famous "Iron Curtain" speech in 1946. While many in America and Europe downplayed the Soviet threat, there were a few who understood the threat the Soviets represented. Those who did were ridiculed by the press and in the public. The anti-communist hearings in the 1950's are protrayed as examples of an American police state. But the Soviets had placed spies very high in the State department, labor unions, and other government agencies. We have the proof in the Venona papers. And yet, Alger Hiss is still defended by the left.

Ronald Reagan came to office when the morale of the United States was on the wane. The VIetnam War, Wateragte, gas shortages, stagflation, then the hostage crisis; all had made Americans feel that perhaps our best days were behind us. From our universities came the blame America first school of thought, which said that the world's ills were our fault. We were told that we were to blame, that we expected too much.

Ronald Reagan always knew that America was a special place, blessed by God, given unique gifts and unlimited opportunity. We are "a shining city uopn a hill". We were, and always will be, "The last, best hope of mankind." America is God's gift to the world. We are not just another nation, but the leader of the free world, the one nation, and one people, who send her young men overseas to die for others' freedom.

We are the only nation who will spend years defeating an enemy then spend billions to rebuild and restore them. We are the only nation whose soldiers and Marines can see the most violent, bloodiest fighting in our history on God-forsaken islands in the middle of the Pacific, then turn around and give their rations to hungry Japanese children. And all the while, never asking for anything more in return than a little parcel of land to bury our dead.

Ronald Reagan never wavered in his belief that Soviet communism was evil and it should go the way of Nazism. Ronald Reagan was unique in his belief that the Soviets should be confronted at every opportunity and forced to do what they could not do, that is compete with the greatest economic and military power in history. At the time he took office, not one think tank, not one historical scholar, not one government agency, not one single institution contemplated a world without a Soviet Union. Reagan was ridiculed for his commitment to defeating Soviet communism. Ten years later, every history textbook needed new maps and todays students grow up asking what was the Soviet Union. All because of Ronald Reagan.

Many in his cabinet and many of his advisors implored him to leave out the "tear down this wall" part of his now famous speech. But that committment was Reagan's trademark, never wavering in his beliefs. And now, part of that very wall stands in his library.

Ronald Reagan made America be America again, reminding us that we are a special nation. Overt patriotism is now fashionable. He reminded us that our best days are ahead of us. History will regard him as one of the great men of the 20th century, perhaps of the last 500 years. His leadership directly led to the defeat of the Soviet Union and in doing that, spared 100's of millions, perhaps billions, from the yoke of communism. Most of all, Reagan never lost confidience in the American people.

I was a young child in 1980 when he was elected. I cannot begin to describe the look in my parents' eyes watching the election returns and seeing Reagan winning. It transcended the joy that comes when your political candidate wins. It was as if America had decided to lift herself up, brush herself off, and once again be the nation that saved the world. It was a look of relief, more importantly, it was a look of pride. Finally, here was a man that would never again allow us to be the laughingstock of the world. Simply put, America was back.

No amount of attacks from the left will diminish his life. No amount of historical revision can delete his impact. In restoring America's faith in herself, for defeating the Soviet Union, and for tipping the balance in favor of liberty around the world, he is owed an amount of gratitude that is not possible to pay. For Reagan, it was always "Morning in America". Now, as he slips the surly bonds of earth, it will now be Morning in Heaven. We owe Reagan a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. God Bless you Mr. President, for you surely blessed America.