This week we commemorate Veteran's Day, so I thought I'd share some photos that Grace and Earl took when they traveled to St. James Cemetery in Brittany. Here's a link to more information about the cemetery called Brittany American Cemetery.
Earl pointed out all of the ethnic names of the soldiers who died fighting for freedom -- for the U.S. and Europe.
I love the sky in this photo.
And the crosses. So many people fought for freedom.
Thanks for playing along with Dreaming of France. Please leave your name and blog address in Mr. Linky below, and leave a comment letting me know what you think about my love affair with France, or your own passion for the country and its people and cultures. Also consider visiting the blogs of others who play along so we can all share the love.
8 comments:
I remember going to st James and being so overwhelmed at just how many were there, it makes you very humble.
Sobering beautiful. Wish I could see it in person.
Roz, Yes, I hope to visit myself once we move to France.
Just Me, We can put it on our list to see when you come visit. I have a feeling that will be a long list.
I have finally got myself organised to post a Monday blog post and link up!
Sadly France has way too many war cemeteries. We have visited lots and all are very moving.
Paulita, thanks for this post, it's so timely and important. We took some photos in 2010 at Omaha Beach, the surrounding small towns and the American cemetery at St. Laurent, all in Brittany. We were leading a big group of high school students on that trip, and their reaction to learning first-hand of the huge sacrifices of American and other Allied troops on the D-Day invasion was amazing to see. The awesome huge stainless steel "Les Braves" memorial sculpture jutting out of the ocean at St. Laurent-sur-Mer is so "French" in it's symbolism and presentation, evoking so much emotion. All of us were hushed and just dumb-struck to see the thousands of graves so beautifully tended at the American Cemetery.
The most inspiring part of the cemetery memorial for me was the quote from General Mark Clark, engraved on one of the smooth marble walls: "If ever proof were needed that we fought for a cause and not for conquest, it could be found in these cemeteries. Here was our only conquest: All we asked was enough soil in which to bury our gallant dead". General Clark was my dad's general during his years fighting in Italy during WWII, and defines integrity in my mind.
If anyone is interested in our photos of that trip, they are at https://goo.gl/photos/akg3geiPbvBLqhLn6 You'll have to cut and paste the address, as I've forgotten how to make a link! Omaha Beach pics are a bit down in the photo collection, after London.
Jacqueline, So glad you are joining in.
John, Thanks for including your photos from the 2010 trip. You could have included your link in the Mr. Linky above and then people could just click on it. So glad you participated!
Rick, our friend Jerry and I spent a rainy afternoon walking through this cemetery looking for Jerry's relatives (which we finally did find). The fellow who was the one in charge that day was just great. Filled with history. Loved the chapel and the whole thing. If you want to check it out, here's the link. I won't add to the France swap this time -- it's an old post, but since you've been there... http://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com/2012/05/road-trip-american-cemetery.html
Jeanie, Thanks so much for commenting and for your link. You should always feel free to add it, even though it's an older post. We can always enjoy reading about France.
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