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September 21, 2009
Normandy: Of Silence and Sacrifice
I can’t imagine being asked to do what U.S. soldiers were asked to do on Omaha Beach in 1944. In Normandy, the people haven’t forgotten. They treat Americans with such reverence, gratitude, and appreciation … and I felt the same emotions as I stood in the American Cemetery, gazing upon row after row of pristine white crosses. As a mother, I couldn’t stop thinking about their ages—these “men” were 25, 24, and under. I got this catch in my throat: They’d be so much older than I am now, yet they’ll always be thought of as young. I was just quiet—you can’t be anything but quiet.
Normandy is earthy, friendly, and rural—not sophisticated like Paris. It’s about soaring white cliffs and the smell of the sea. But above all else, it’s about incredible sacrifice and gratitude. I’ve been to so many stunningly beautiful places, but Normandy is one of the most important.
Have you ever been to a place whose beauty was overshadowed by its historic or spiritual meaning? Send your stories to
harriet@gct.com
Next in Harriet’s Corner, I’ll be featuring Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji—but, as always, I want to hear about all of your travels.
Harriet Lewis