My father was fifteen years old when he joined the Army. He landed on the beaches of Normandy when he was a teenager. Today , I take this time to honor him and the many, many brave soldiers who are no longer with us and all the WWII veterans who are still with us. I was born quite a few years after WWII and I would like to share this article with you.
Ernie Pyle was a war correspondent who was right there during some of the worst battles of the war. I quote from his writings about D-Day.

]"The strong, swirling tides of the Normandy coastline shift the contours of of the sandy beaches as they move in and out."
"They carry soldiers' bodies out sea and they later return them. They cover the corpses of heroes with sand, and then in their whims they uncover them. As I plowed out over the wet sands of the beach that first day ashore,I walked around what seemed to be two pieces of driftwood sticking out of the sand..but it wasn't driftwood. They were a soldiers two feet. He was completely covered by the shifting sands except for his GI boots pointed toward the land he had come so far to see, and which he saw so briefly"

Ernie Pyle has written articles about WWII.. but this was so moving I wanted to share.
My Dad came back from the war crippled and still held down a job, sometimes more than one to support
His family. He is now with the Lord

All of us who see or know a veteran of WWI and WWII.. thank him. If there are Vietnam vets or Gulf War.Korean War, Persian Gulf and the Iraqi and Afghanistan war going on right now... Thank them... I'm glad to be the daughter of the parents of the greatest generation.:) I'm proud to be the mom of an American Soldier.

Yes, kitty, we in Canada lost many many young men at Normandy. I read an article in theToronto Star today that said the landing site at Normandy was slowly eroding and the german bunker is slowly sinking down the slope; they had to shore it up. The sea is taking that too.

We always remember this day, my father in law was a vet of WW1. We haven't got many of them left in Canada now.

Hugs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tickle

yes, kitty, we in Canada lost many many young men at Normandy. I read an article in theToronto Star today that said the landing site at Normandy was slowly eroding and the german bunker is slowly sinking down the slope; they had to shore it up. The sea is taking that too.

We always remember this day, my father in law was a vet of WW1. We havent got many of them left in Canada now.

hugs

---

It's so sad to imagine... Thank you tickle:)

Probably the most emotional site I have personally ever seen is the American cemetery on the slopes of Normandy beach. Seeing more than 8000 grave markers of the brave young men who gave all to preserver freedom for us all is a must see for every American. It gives a whole new prospective to the meaning of sacrifice and what it means to live in a free country.
Too bad people today do not understand how much true freedom costs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 450donn

Probably the most emotional site I have personally ever seen is the American cemetery on the slopes of Normandy beach. Seeing more than 8000 grave markers of the brave young men who gave all to preserver freedom for us all is a must see for every American. It gives a whole new prospective to the meaning of sacrifice and what it means to live in a free country.
Too bad people today do not understand how much true freedom costs.

---

Thank you for this. I've always wanted to visit France and see that. Thank you for posting it means so much to me and the families of the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I'll bet your visit was emotional.:)

My Grandad walked the Appenines before Normandy. I got to play in the Northern Andes. Marines sometimes go up as well as onto the beach. Remember the fallen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Catsmine

My Grandad walked the Appenines before Normandy. I got to play in the Northern Andes. Marines sometimes go up as well as onto the beach. Remember the fallen.

---

Cats.. thank you for responding... I'll bet the Andes is a beautiful place. I just wanted to honor them. Thanks:)

Hello:

Ooooorahhh.

excon

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by excon

Hello:

Ooooorahhh.

excon

---

Thanks Exy... I wanted to honor my Dad and all the others who served and the ones who died and are still dying... Kit

Hear the quietness of those souls who gave all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stringer

Hear the quietness of those souls who gave all.

---

Thank you for your response... for honoring those Heroes!:)