05/27/2023
Last November, my husband and I visited The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-ser-Mer, France, overlooking the beaches of Normandy. This was the original site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery created by the US First Army on June 8, 1944 and was the first American cemetery on European soil during WWII. Seeing the landing areas and hearing the events surrounding the D-Day invasion and imagining the blood, sacrifice, and courage of not only that day, but the subsequent Battle of Normandy where every inch gained in liberating France was paid for dearly in lives was one of the most profound, impactful, sobering, gut-wrenching, meaningful experiences I have ever had.
The centerpiece of the memorial is a larger-than-life bronze statue called, "The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves" depicting our young courageous soldiers pressing forward on the beaches sacrificing their youth for freedom. The average age of the soldiers lost that day was 19 years old.
Quick stats: 9,386 American soldiers are laid to rest there; 1,557 were missing in action (a few of these have been found, identified, and returned to their families).
While there, we witnessed a beautiful tribute and memorial ceremony that takes place frequently and regularly there, thanking the visiting US Veterans and their decedents for their service and remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
While we were there looking over the beach from the German's vantage point, we saw a French woman walking her dog on the beach. One person in our group said they thought it was disgraceful for someone to blatantly enjoy themselves on such hallowed ground where so many men died. But many chimed up and said that was exactly why they gave up their lives...so that others after them may enjoy peace and freedom, and life, and love, and not only were they were glad to see that beach being enjoyed, but they felt that their brothers who died would be glad their mission was accomplished, and peace, freedom, and joy reigned once more.
I was also impressed by the French while we were there. Everywhere we went in the Normandy province, the French would approach the American tourists and thank them for aiding France during WWII. Now, this was in 2022, but the pains of loss and savagery from their time of German occupation was experienced by these people's parents and grandparents, who have passed down their stories and experiences so that every generation knows what happened and how appreciative they still are to this day.
I have so much more of an appreciation of our servicemen, our Veterans, and especially those who gave their lives in the name of Freedom. May you ever be remembered, honored, and appreciated.
