Today marks the 70th Anniversary of The Allied invasion of German-occupied France to liberate continental Europe from Nazi tyranny...
The images and sounds of rough weather, our paratroopers, tracer fire, the aerial bombardment, The Atlantic Wall, the amphibious landing, words of encouragement, cries for help, the dazed stares of the living, the wounded, the dead, etc. have been forever etched into our memory...and we have promised never to forget the sacrifices of all of our troops in their service to our country.
9,387 lives ended in the American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy...their graves facing west toward the home they would never see again.
Most of these boys not much older than my students...leaving behind stories that would never be written or remembered.
And I ponder questions I would ask them...
Who were you...where are you from...what were your parents like?
What was your favorite childhood memory...favorite food...favorite sports...favorite subject in school?
Were you in love...who loved you...did anyone care to tell your story?
What were your dreams for the future?
What were your last thoughts before you died?
If you could...what would you say to your family...lover...my students?
Can you feel that we still care...that we are thankful...that you are loved by a nation?
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