Tribute to the Fallen

Posted by Mandy Provan (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 1 July 2008 in Miscellaneous.

Whilst in Normandy we visited one of the American Cemetaries and Memorials for the fallen soldiers. It The largest of the three American Cemetaries.The ground for the cemetaries was given to the various Allied countries who assisted France with the D-Day landings. The land was given on the condition that the countries would make no commercial gain out of the cemetaries at all. So while their is a small information centre at the cemetary, there is no place to purchase anything. Which for me was a fitting request.

A most beautiful and Peaceful place, overlooking the ocean. All of the crosses are made of Italian marble and bear the name and rank of the soldier who lays beneath it. In the case of the unknown soldiers the following inscription is on the cross "Here rests in Honored glory a Comrade in arms Known but to God". With the development of DNA analysis many of these unknown soldiers are being identified and the unknown crosses are being replaced with the soldiers name and rank.

A little bit of Trivia : This cemetary is the cemetary you see in the opening scenes of "Saving Private Ryan" with Tom Hanks, where the old man is kneeling in front of a grave and starts to tell his family about the brave Captain that was sent to find him.

" Everything will work out in the end. If it's not working out, it's not the end." - Max Lucado ~ Fearless.

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