Freedom isn't Free

Today I am thankful for the brave men and women who have served our country so gallantly. After spending the day at the American Cemetery at Coleville and L'Pointe du Hoc, our whole group was emotionally drained and overwhelmed. I've visited both Arlington and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, but was still struck by the enormity and power of the cemetery and memorial today. Upon entering the cemetery, you see a large columned memorial, which contains an account of the beach landings at Normandy, as well as detailed maps. In the center is a two story high bronze statue of a Greek warrior. Behind the memorial is a list of names of all those missing in action, set up much like the Vietnam Memorial in DC. Next, one enters into the 8 different plots in the cemetery. The eerie precision of the headstone rows always sends shivers down my spine, and reminds me of the sanctity of these grounds. There is a beautiful chapel in the middle of the grounds, with a tile mosaic on the ceiling of wounded soldiers being comforted by angels. We then walked down to Omaha Beach. We sat in the sand and stared up at the bluff from where we'd just come, trying to imagine what it would have been like to have to climb it under enemy gunfire. Needless to say we got goosebumps. We finished our time in the visitors center, which tells the story of the planning and execution of D-Day, along with artifacts from the war. No one in our group left with a dry eye.

We then drove down the road to L'Pointe du Hoc, where 225 Army Rangers scaled sheer cliffs to take control of the point between Omaha and Utah beach. The bunkers at the top were manned by the last the of the German reserves, young boys of 13 or 14. Though outnumbered, they fired down at the climbing Rangers as they scaled the 100 foot cliffs. But the Rangers persevered, and took the bunkers and the point. However, only 90 made it to the end of the day. As we walked out into the park, large crater holes littered the ground on each side. Remnants of several bunkers remain, and visitors can go inside, which gives one a chilling feeling knowing what went on in those rooms. As I looked out over the cliffs, I couldn't imagine how these Rangers, no older than me, managed to climb them and get to the top, while being fired on with machine guns. It was a truly humbling feeling to look out and remember the sacrifice of those who didn't make it.

We ended the day, fittingly, with a showing of Saving Private Ryan at the house. We all got goosebumps, for the movie opens and closes at the American Cemetery at Coleville, where we had just been all day. It was a sobering day, and reminded us all just what it cost to win the war and enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.