Reporter's Note: President Barack Obama seems to take this notion of communicating with normal Americans pretty seriously, and he has invited us to all write to him with suggestions on how to run the country.  And since he asked, I am writing a letter a day.

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/europe/06/06/dday.ceremony/art.dday.afp.gi.jpg caption="Thousands of allied troops lost their lives in the D-Day landings of June 1944."]

Tom Foreman | Bio
AC360° Correspondent

Dear Mr. President,

Among many fascinating people I have been privileged to know over the years was the noted historian and author Stephen Ambrose. He was, like so many of the people he wrote about, somewhat bigger than life. His understanding of history, and his ability to make it comes alive in both his books and interviews were wonderful.

I had the great pleasure of walking with him through the D-Day Museum in New Orleans a couple of years before he died, and he told me so many astonishing stories. As you may recall, he was the museum’s founder. He put up a small fortune of his own to get it started, and poured so much heart and determination into the project it simply could not fail. All of that was evident that day as we walked and talked; his deep respect, his years of study, and his abiding love for young Americans willing to go into battle beneath our nation’s flag.

The museum has since been renamed by Congress as America’s National World War Two Museum, and it is absolutely a must-see. And if you have never read Stephen’s book, D-Day, you really should.

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