AGEOD Forums

In few hours, Presidents Obama and Sarkozy will go to the American military cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach).
They will honor, by their presence, the memory of the men who gave their life for the freedom of our countries.

This cemetery is a remarkable place, filled with the spirit of those men who died so young and when you visit it you feel unique feelings, like an immense serenity but also a great sadness.
We don't forget also the sacrifice of British (and UK), Canadian, Polish, Belgian and French soldiers this day.

Indeed.

I also want to add that there were even more nationalities on the beaches that day, besides the main nations you list; I know that e.g. the (Norwegian) grandfather of a friend of mine was attached to one of the engineer units in the British sector that day. It was truly an allied effort.

Though not unique, the sacrifices made that day were immense, and I can only hope that should I some day face a challenge of similar magnitude, that I will be able to muster even a fraction of the courage these men did.

I visited the cimetery (and others) and the Mémorial of Caen some years ago with my grand-father who was 11 years old in 1940. Really a great trip, very impressive and poignancy.

I have been particularly impressed by the black crosses reserved to german soldiers, to mark the difference with others fighters of the Normandy Battle.

In my view, a lot of german soldiers have not choosen this fate by themselves, especially the D-Day. All the books i read about the D-Day show that the garrison of the bunkers were very young or old, or even soldiers from the eastern countries.

Vegetius wrote:In my view, a lot of german soldiers have not choosen this fate by themselves, especially the D-Day. All the books i read about the D-Day show that the garrison of the bunkers were very young or old, or even soldiers from the eastern countries.

Yes, we can have a thought for them also.
The German military cemetery of "La Cambe", near Colleville-sur-Mer is another place of memory to visit.

My recently deceased uncle was at D-Day and on the bridge over Remagen when the Allies invaded Germany -- we should never forget the sacrifices that were made!