The White House
Washington
April 12th 1988
Dear Mr Small:
On behalf of all Americans, thank you for your kind and generous efforts in helping to establish a memorial at Torcross, England, honoring the brave American soldiers and sailors who died in 1944 during a rehearsal for the D-Day landings of World War II.
Your concern for our servicemen who made the supreme sacrifice exemplifies the strong bonds of friendship and admiration that unite the people of our two countries. This memorial has strengthened those bonds by reminding us of the untold sacrifices and contributions of citizens such as yourself who endured countless hardships for a common cause.
The tragic loss of lives in April 1944 vivedly reminds us that freedom is not free, but requires the steadfast courage and dedication of men and women who are willing to fight to safeguard that freedom.
Soldiers of the NATO Alliance today, like those in 1944, stand ready to defend freedom, and your compassion serves as an inspiration not only to them but to all those who cherish freedom throughout the world. God bless you.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan.