D-Day 1944, 6603 American lives were lost to reestablish liberty and freedom.
I have visited the Normandy Beaches twice. Standing on the cliffs near a now silent Nazi bunker, I was eerily impressed with the clear scope of sight they over the incoming troops. While over 40 years had passed when i was there one was able to hear the sound of guns hailing death down on the Allied troops.
From the beach it self you can look up to the bunkers. What was eerie at the top was frightening from the shore. The beach at Normandy does not invite you to frolicsome fun activities. The beaches of Normandy reeks of blood even decades later. There are no waves at this beach, there is a constant ebb and flow of water that remains cold all the days of the year.
Not far from the beaches there is the cemetery, Row after row of headstones and yet they are not all here. Some are under the sea.
An 18 year soldier that survived that day, would be 87 today. On that day he carried 80 lbs of battle equipment, today he probably walks with assistance. On that day he probably shook with angst today he probably shakes with disease. On that day he had a "questionable" future , today he has only the past.
D-Day brings memories of a "smaller" invasion I took part in on the shore of the Mekong river. The view was different but the senses are the same. Blood and gunfire always is acrid, it burns the soul.
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