East of Le Havre and west of Rouen, at the Seine River’s northernmost tip, the small town of Caudebec-en-Caux, seemingly adorned with flowers, awaits those who travel each day to Normandy, to visit, pray, pay respects, get a sense of history, and sadly mourn.

I have visited graves of friends and relatives, Arlington, The Arizona, Flanders Field and the grave of my Dad, but, except for my Dad’s grave site, nothing was as gripping as visiting Omaha Beach, Normandy. It is eerily beautiful as it is meticulously maintained, but as you  quietly walk along deep in your own thoughts, you  unconsciously  follow the bend on a pretty path and  suddenly without any inner preparation  or fortitude you view the magnitude and the significance of  the  masses of crosses, honoring, every creed, color,  and nationality it is overwhelming.  It is peaceful and quiet as everyone is respectful as they walk in their own thoughts. But it is heartbreaking as you tearfully read the names and ages of these courageous souls. I felt it imperative to offer a prayer for each one to thank them for allowing me to live in a free world.

You take a walk on Omaha Beach, the site of the deadliest battle, you view the cliffs those young men tried to climb to safety and didn’t. You view the German bunkers and there just is no way to hold back the tears. All these young men, sons, husbands, fathers some as young as 15. And many, women there, too. I take it all in and all I can think of is why! They fought for freedom, gave up their lives and now in this present day we fight for ridiculous things, like color, creed, nationality. Blood is shed, lives are lost, war is senseless….Why!