Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

The day we visited the landing beaches of Normandy was one of the coldest days this whole semester.  Though, it was fitting being at the cemetery while it was foggy and cold.  Unfortunately because of the weather we were unable to walk down to the beaches so we just walked through the memorial and the museum.  For me walking through the almost never ending cemetery was very emotional.  My brother was in the army and was served in Iraq right in the midst of war against terrorism.  When I thought about all of the soldiers that were someone’s father, husband, son, and brother it brought tears to my eyes thinking it could have easily been my brother in another cemetery just like this.  I am very thankful to all of them that served during WWII and all of the men after them that are still protecting our country and I am honored to have been able to pay my respects.  I also walked through the museum and I was excited to see how many people there were there, not only Americans but people from all over the world.

I am unaware of how WWII is looked at through the French perspective but I am sure it is a lot different since the war actually happened on their homelands.  When I told one of my French friends that I was going to Normandy he was very excited and he told me that they learn so much about the war and the Holocaust throughout school, but it didn’t seem to affect him any further. I compare it to the US and the Civil War and how awful slaves were treated in those times, but that it’s not something we think about every time we see an African American.  I’d say this goes the same way for Jewish people in France.  I have not noticed any hostility towards Germans but I do not think it would be appropriate throw around the word Nazi at any occasion.