They Fight to Let Justice Arise
Main Menu Theme for Omaha Beach Terrain
by JNS Mods

In honor of those who fought at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.

I was given the opportunity to write the main menu music for the "Omaha Beach" Terrain - a free mod for Arma 3 (which is required for its use) and for the recently released WWII Creator DLC: Spearhead 1944 (whose development team have provided a free workshop version of, that is also required to run the terrain).

The piece nods to and utilizes several idioms from composers whose work I adore. Many of their works have come to serve present day listeners as a sonic rallying flag marking the era of history from 1941-1945.

I had a wonderful end-cap to the project the evening of Friday, August 25 while visiting the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC where I live. There was an evening rain storm projected and I was reminded of the storms passing over the beach preceding the events that morning of June 6 in Normandy - it hit as I walked around the public space. Throughout the week I was humbled by the research and quotes I had been gleaning from to get into a reverent headspace for writing and it was quieting to visit the memorial that marked this operation, and the many others fought on all fronts in those years.

I am grateful towards Matthew Suckling for accepting to play principle trumpet on the solos throughout this work. We had worked together previously at our day jobs as baristas in DC and were excited to work together musically. His playing is effortless - and I can assure you that the range I had written for him is not easily made so. I am thankful for his collaboration in bringing this music to life.

Many words were spoken and written that morning and I'd like to read a small portion FDR's Prayer to the Nation of which the piece is titled from. He poetically brought the truth of the grimness of that morning whilst simultaneously bolstering the mission for those soldiers invading, and those waiting for them at home.

"They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people."

-Luke, August 2023

Arma 3: https://store.steampowered.com/app/107410/Arma_3/

Omaha Beach Terrain:

Spearhead 1944 - Creator DLC Compatibility Data for Non-Owners: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2991828484

Musical Idioms
Williams: Saving Private Ryan
Elgar: Enigma Variations, Op.36: IX. (Nimrod)
Barber: Symphony No. 1, Op. 9: III. Andante tranquillo
Friedhofer: The Best Years of Our Lives
Key: US National Anthem
Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Nemitz: Spearhead 1944 Main Theme

Title Source
FDR’s Prayer to the Nation (D-Day/Invasion Prayer) on June 6, 1944 (https://www.fdrlibrary.org/d-day)

Music Composed by Luke Nemitz
Trumpet Solo, Matthew Suckling

Thanks for listening!