Memorial Day

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jaysouth

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In 2012, I took my grandsons, then living in Belgium, to the Normandy beaches and war memorials. At the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach we saw a French priest sprinkling holy water on the crosses marking American graves. With him were three bus loads of adolescent school children praying over the graves that he had sprinkled with holy water.

It was a teachable moment that reframed the way that I had always felt about the French. It also occurred to me that three busloads of American students 12-14 would be a scene of total chaos instead of the reverence and respect that the French students were exhibiting.



It is not seen in the photo, but there were fresh roses on the ground by each "unknown" cross.



Here is a more peaceful scene of Omaha Beach as seen today.

 
Thank you.

Every year it seems I go on a rant when some twit uses Memorial Day as an excuse to say thank you to living veterans and/or people currently serving in the military. I always respond by posting some photos of the American cemeteries in France and Luxembourg. THOSE are who Memorial Day is about. It's about remembering the men and women who died in service of their country.

I visited several of the cemeteries as part of an adult education tour in 1994. WE weren't there for the actual 50th anniversary of D-Day, we were there a few weeks before, while preparations for the remembrance activities were in full swing. What I noticed was that the French in Normandy are very different from the French in Paris. The people living in Normandy know that the Americans gave them back their freedom. They respect us and honor the sacrifice made by the people associated with those crosses. Just as an example, in 1994 I had not had occasion to use my high school french for over 30 years, so it was (shall we say) less than fluent. In Normandy, they appreciated that I was trying, they made allowances for my goofs, and we got along. When the tour hit Paris, even though by then some of my French was coming back -- nobody could understand me, and nobody was interested in trying.

If anyone has an opportunity to visit even one of the American cemeteries in Europe -- do it. You won't be the same afterwards.
 
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Thanks for the post jaysouth. Haven't had the fortune to visit any European cemeterys , so for now pics will have to do. hopefully others will follow your post w more pics.
 
You don't have to go to Europe, if you understand. Arlington is in the US. And there are veterans in virtually every cemetery in our nation.

The people in Normandy lived through the fighting. They saw the bodies, ours, and theirs, and the Germans. The people in Paris, never did. (Paris was declared an open city when it fell in 1940, and again (and against Hitler's orders) when it fell (was liberated) again in 44.) The only fighting done in Paris was the resistance taking their revenge on "collaborators".

Also, Paris is THE big city. Country people tend to be more...forgiving.

Think of how you get treated in NYC vs. small town Iowa or Montana, for example.
 
"The only fighting done in Paris was the resistance taking their revenge on "collaborators".

It is interesting to note the number of casualties and how they were inflicted on French civilians in WWII.

In the course of the invasion and occupation, the Germans killed 30,000 Frenchmen over 4 years

In the course of our invasion and fighting the Germans, 30,000 french civilians were killed over the course of a couple of months.

After the route of the German forces, and before the establishment of civil authority, Frenchmen killed 30,000 French civilians in a few weeks. Mostly settling old scores with colloborators, some just settling old scores.
 
Been to Arlington many times, of all the monuments and memorials in Washington that's the best. Would still like to go to Normandy.
 
I would give almost anything to visit Normandy and pay my personal respect to those that have fallen in the defense of our freedoms and liberties... And the OP is correct, I do not feel in a million years that most of 'our' adolescents get it.

It's not their fault really, it isn't really taught in schools anymore, they don't say the pledge of allegiance, they can't pray to God, nothing anymore... none of the core values we use to honor and respect have all been but obliterated.

However, I did see this short video about an American boy who went to Normandy beach with his mom, he stood in salute to our fallen (and all those who have gave their life), for an hour and a half until he finally collapsed in his mother's arms. At the end of the video, a wonderful things happens to that boy. It's a great video if anyone is interested, not a dry eye!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k9Si28k0Fk

God Bless our fallen heroes!!
 
A visit to Arlington is a very moving experience. The devotion of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier touched me deeply, as did the scope and the beauty of the place that honors the heroes of freedom. I have not had the privilege of visiting Normandy, but Arlington is a special place.
 
Thanks for the reminder that Memorial Day is for remembering those who gave their lives defending this country.

But this isn't really on topic for us.... so, with respect, closed.
 
Great post. While a comparison with American kids would bring me the same images you thought of, I can't help but wonder if these kids you saw were from a religious school with the priest, and how a couple busloads of an American Catholic school might be more similarly respectful.


To Aguila's point, one of my peeves is someone saying "Happy Memorial Day" which strikes me as about as appropriate as telling somebody on their way to a funeral to "have a good time".
 
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