Normandy postscript
Dad, Sons 1 and 2, and I have all read a stack of books about WWII. And with that knowledge, you walk on the sands and see through the mind’s eye the landing craft dumping their human cargo onto the beach. And man, these beaches are deep with hundreds of feet to the embankment. You “see” those enemy soldiers doing all they can to keep you on that beach. To never let you off of it. Ever.
Most of the French language tour books about Normandy consecrate just a few pages to the landings and even though that’s regrettable, it’s understandable. For Normandy is more than a battlefield. It’s a place where people worked and farmed and fished and raised families and holidayed long before the débarquement (D-Day), and it’s right that those same everyday activities continue, even on the beaches and in the fields and along the hedges where so many gave their lives. To turn the entire area into a memorial would defeat the purpose of the invasion.
The cemeteries scattered around are an appropriate enough memorial, as are the everyday activities of the people who live in Normandy, people who still live free…
At least politically free.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Thanks for sharing the enthusiasm. It’s nice, at this point, just to see PICTURES of your folks. I miss them.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I know this is redundant but I need to make this trip! Thanks for the comments and pictures. Hope your father feels better.
April 20th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I like your comment, “To turn the entire area into a memorial would defeat the purpose of the invasion.”
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Well said. I’ve enjoyed seeing the pictures and sharing these travels with you. Sorry I keep dropping in and out of sight. Been dealing with a family crisis involving a brother. Last week, I was called out of town to the hospital in Pocahontas, Arkansas, because his condition was so critical. He did, however, rally somewhat. Not out of the woods, yet, but better.