“Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their valor, and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.” President Ronald Reagan, excerpt from his speech commemorating the 40th Anniversary in 1984.

Good morning and welcome to today's edition. Better known in some quarters as a veritable cornucopia of discombobulated thoughts and ideas. If nothing else, it should qualify for style points for variety. Welcome to Thursday, June 6, 2019. I did watch several of the clips from the D-Day observance from England yesterday commemorating the 75th year since that milestone WWII invasion. (There will be even more today as world leaders meet at Normandy, France.) The speeches and the ceremony itself was impressive. I was particularly moved by a song from that era, "We'll Meet Again". It was written in 1939 by British songwriters Ross Parker and Hughie Charles. It became one of the defining songs from the WWII era. Benny Goodman recorded it in the states with Peggy Lee singing the lyrics in 1942. At the performance at this year's commemoration, it was wonderfully rendered by singer Sheridan Smith with a huge combined military orchestra. They had footage from WWII rolling on the huge screen during the song. What a tribute! Knowing my dad and two uncles plus other relatives were a part of that war made it personal to me. Out of respect for those who fought and especially those who died, here are the lyrics to that great wartime tune:

We'll Meet Again

We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Keep smiling through
Just like you always do
'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away

So will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell them I won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That as you saw me go
I was singing this song

We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
Keep smiling through
Just like you always do
'Til the blue skies
Drive the dark clouds far away

So will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell them it won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That as you saw me go
I was singin' this song
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Songwriters: Hughie Charles / Ross Parker

I did check and, yes, I did listen to the Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee version. It is available on YouTube.

And, just so you know, I do love the big band songs from this era. Maybe that's why the wife tells people she thinks I was born in the wrong time continuum. Again, my dad loved this type of music as well. We played his records a lot after his passing in 1954. That's right. Records. On the old 78 RPM record player. I understand that records over the past number of years are making a come back of sorts. Maybe the digital stuff is so pure with every little flaw removed, it lacks genuineness. Just a thought. Don't quote me on that one, but, feel free to quote President Reagan. He was, in my opinion, the best president in our country during my lifetime. Thus far. His love for America and his heart for her potential is what made him tick. Thank God for those who still believe. Amen. ....More later.