LENA ANDERSON
"The Greatest Preachers of Peace"
By Lena Anderson
As Austin walked through the row of countless headstones he noticed another one with “Georgia” engraved on it. He was filled with a little bit of pride, as he is also from Georgia. It was on an overcast, dreary day that fourteen college students entered the wide-open field of the American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy, France.
It was surprising to see so many misfortunes spread out in such perfect unity. The white crosses and sporadic stars of David have been resting there since World War II. There were long walkways of dusty red cement stretching out past thousands of graves that went on for what seemed like miles.
Little did some of us realize that thousands of men our age had paid the ultimate price on June 6, 1944. While we had been studying abroad throughout Europe, our two professors were hoping that we would gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the lives lost and victories won during the First and Second World Wars.
The adventure began as we stumbled out of the cars, bundled up warmly, expecting rain. The chilly wind encouraged everyone to put on our winter jackets. We made our way through a building that required security checks before walking under the tall swaying trees towards what seemed like just only another war monument.
Beforehand, our professors had taken us to numerous museums, churches, and sites, commemorating the World Wars.
We had been spending the past month learning about culture, and the role of the performing arts today, as well as the impact of the World Wars and ideologies of that time that influenced the arts. With a special focus on World War II, the last few weeks were spent in the countryside of Normandy, France, once occupied by Nazi-Germany. Right before our visit to the American Cemetery we had quickly stopped in at a German Cemetery. Numerous letters from people, taped to the central monument in the middle of the cemetery, read, “even though you were the enemy…” It is easy to forget that a tremendous number of German lives were lost too. A wall there had engraved on it, “The soldiers graves are the greatest preachers of peace.” It was incredibly still and gloomy, which the overcast day didn’t help with. We did not spend a long time there, but it was important to observe the difference between the two.
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial was established in 1944 in honor of American troops who died during World War II in Europe. It rests on a field of 172 acres with over 9,000 burials overlooking Omaha Beach. This specifically honors the soldiers who gave their lives at the beaches where D-Day took place. D-Day was a successful and meticulously planned invasion to free France from the Nazi occupation. This allied operation resulted in an American victory that contributed to the ultimate defeat of the Germans.
After entering the cemetery, we were encouraged to walk around at our own pace and reflect on what was before us. It was a relief to look up from our scribbled notes written in our journals. Except for the headstones honoring unidentified soldiers, all of them had names, dates, and the state the soldier was from. Several pupils conversed with excitement when a person was from their state. There was even more exhilaration when someone could find their own last name. There is always some small part of you that asks, “Could we be related?”
Omaha Beach
Though we were not related, many of us were the same age as these soldiers who left their wives or husbands, mothers or fathers, friends, or children to selflessly come ashore to face thousands of German bullets. Erin Plum, a senior at the time, stood on the beach thinking what a powerful experience it was to be standing at the exact spot where it all happened. The only difference was it was near impossible to imagine the true horror the soldiers experienced on the beach.
The ocean was freezing as one student kneeled down to touch the waves that caressed the rocks. It was a pleasant walk down to the beach through the trees and bushes that had been carefully cut out for tourists. How treacherous it must have been to trudge through the swampy marsh that surrounded the wooden bridgeboards and cemented trails, while dodging gunshots. For many of us, standing on Omaha Beach below the cemetery was living history.
Flag Ceremony
There to join us at the memorial was the husband of one of our professors, Bill Beamish, who had experienced this time period in history. Bill served in the military for a little over three years and the army air corps in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Since Bill was a veteran, we got the privilege of participating in the flag ceremony. Every morning and late afternoon, the American flag is raised and lowered above the thousands of graves. After walking back up the path from the beach, the students gathered by the flagpole to witness this special ceremony. Two of us got to assist in folding the American flag with Bill. It was a unique experience that embodied respect for war veterans, and America’s heroism.
Student Connections
We all connected with this monument in different ways. Several students were not impacted at all. It was not out of disrespect or lack of appreciation; it is that there are students with no personal connections to the war. The textbooks in class and the museums had more of an emotional impact on them But, there are many who have suffered loss or heard the war stories from relatives. Weston Williams, a sophomore at the time, had several relatives in World War II, including a great uncle who was actually at the Normandy Landings. He was able to put himself in the place of the soldiers just by thinking about it.
I had a connection through my grandfather who worked on planes in London during the bombings. Although, I had never met him, I knew of the many love letters he wrote to my grandmother through the stories from my mom. Before, I would roll my eyes saying, “I know, I know.” While standing in front of the headstones, I was regretting not having asked further questions about my grandfather’s war experiences. Walking by all the crosses and reading the engravings on the walls commemorating the soldiers made several students realize how much we need to appreciate freedom and acknowledge Veteran’s Day more thoughtfully.
Even though the American Cemetery did not impact all of us in the same way, we were all moved by the vast amount of knowledge we learned about World War II. The professors had us write letters to a soldier referenced on headstone on our choice. Even if someone did not have relatives, or close friends, who were veterans, this prompted them to express gratitude in some way. It was an appropriate way to respond to the sight of all the men at rest.
Generally, Americans today do not experience the horrors of war on their own soil. We left America having a background of the World Wars from textbooks, and returned from Europe having learned much about the terror, losses, and repercussions upon other countries including America. Many of the students returned home with pride for their country. It is important to remember and honor that the sacrifices of our American soldiers helped win the Second World War.
