In Normandy, France our guide decided to avoid the crowds, so he got us up a bit early in order to be at the cemetery for the flag raising. We stood quietly on the steps of the memorial, each with our own thoughts as a French male and female approached first one flag pole at the end of the reflecting pool, then the other. It was a windless day and the flags hung limp as they slowly climbed up to the top of the poles.
Some interesting facts I learned include that the cemetery sits on US land as France deeded it to us after WW II. All the white marble crosses and Stars of David face the United States. The employees are French but employees of the US government. The grounds for the 9286 American boys who made the ultimate sacrifice on D-day are impeccably kept. It was an incredible experience to stand among them. (Remember in the 1940s there were very few females in the service and those who were did not see action.)
Infamous bloody Omaha Beach now is like any sandy beach---a place where people go to sun and have fun. The powder-fine sand is a pale beige. The tide was out and from my vantage point in the cemetery I spotted a horse and cart running along the wet sand, as if they were practicing for a race. This experience has become an incredible memory.
Some interesting facts I learned include that the cemetery sits on US land as France deeded it to us after WW II. All the white marble crosses and Stars of David face the United States. The employees are French but employees of the US government. The grounds for the 9286 American boys who made the ultimate sacrifice on D-day are impeccably kept. It was an incredible experience to stand among them. (Remember in the 1940s there were very few females in the service and those who were did not see action.)
Infamous bloody Omaha Beach now is like any sandy beach---a place where people go to sun and have fun. The powder-fine sand is a pale beige. The tide was out and from my vantage point in the cemetery I spotted a horse and cart running along the wet sand, as if they were practicing for a race. This experience has become an incredible memory.
