Summary Of Remarks On The 40th Anniversary Of D-Day

1762 Words8 Pages

"Remarks on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day" by Ronald Reagan delivered in Normandy is a sample of an effective and persuasive speech, where the speaker uses different stylistic devices to increase the impact of his words and speech on the audience. As a matter of fact, the speech focuses on the historical events related to World War II while Ronald Reagan attempts to intertwine the historical events of the past with the present moment. Moreover, he shows the close link between the past heroic deeds of Americans and the need to unite efforts of all democratic countries in the new struggle against their common enemy. In general, the speech is quite successful due to the use of various stylistic devices, logical and emotional presentation of key …show more content…

Burke makes a very notable point about Reagan’s presence at the ceremony saying, “President Ronald Reagan was the first sitting president to attend a D-Day anniversary observance in Normandy” (Burke.) In this regard, it is possible to trace the effective and systematic use of pathos in the speech of Ronald Reagan. For instance, he refers to the veterans of World War II as follows, "These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. And these are the heroes who helped end a war” (Reagan). Obviously, the use of pathos contributes to the persuasion of the audience because it evokes basic moral values in the audience, such as the respect to the elder generation and to veterans of World War II, who were true heroes. Reagan stresses their heroic struggle and deeds, which cost so many lives for the US and its …show more content…

Szoldra remarks on the idea of past and present saying, “Today is the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, but a speech given on its 40th anniversary by President Ronald Reagan is one that everyone should hear” (Szoldra). In this regard, he uses logos to make his speech reasonable and persuading, “We're bound today by what bound us 40 years ago, the same loyalties, traditions, and beliefs. We're bound by reality. The strength of America's allies is vital to the United States, and the American security guarantee is essential to the continued freedom of Europe's democracies. We were with you then; we're with you now. Your hopes are our hopes, and your destiny is our destiny” (Reagan). At this point, Ronald Reagan uses logos to draw attention of the public to the current problems the US face. In fact, he uses the events of D-Day that occurred forty years ago as the background to the present threats to democracy, the US and its allies. He uses skillfully logos to show that threats of the past persist and today Americans still face numerous problems and threats. In such a way, he logically concludes that Americans and their allies should unite their efforts in the struggle against new threats that emerge in the contemporary world. Moreover, in the end of his speech he refers again to the authority of God to complete his speech and back it up with the