a different kind of independence day celebration

a fitting, though less traditional way of celebrating the fourth of july. ann and i took the train to normandy this morning and then a bus to the american cemetery and omaha beach. the cemetery was overwhelming as the crosses stretch on and on seeming to never end. name after name identifies the individuals that lost their lives for the freedom of our country. those that were unidentified or lost are honored by crosses marking 'a comrade in arms known but to God'. the beaches are drastically different from those on the french rivera in the south. there is a sort of understood respect for those that lost their lives on the beach 65 years ago.