The American Cemetary

On Wednesday we also visited the American Cemetery. I didn’t blog about it Wednesday night because I was completely worn out!!
I have to say that it was a good experience. Although I was a little surprised that I wasn’t emotional. There were some people that couldn’t stop crying…but I really didn’t feel anything. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that I was not speechless when I saw all the white crosses. I’m not saying that I was not stunned when I saw the long wall of the soldiers who were never found. And I’m not saying that I was not moved by the words of praise and thanks written on the monuments. I’m not saying any of those things…

But I feel the need to reiterate that I think that it is difficult for someone of my generation to feel emotional about something that I fully admit I will never be able to completely understand. I go back to the idea that I just can’t imagine what it was like.

I was amazed at the rows and rows and rows of white crosses. I tried to take time away from the group by walking a little behind and thinking to myself. I was a little frustrated at my lack of emotion but at the same time my reaction was what I had expected it would be.

I feel it is necessary that I also note the difference from the American Cemetery and the British Cemetery, which we visited later in the day. My eyes were teary and I was a little bit choked up at the smaller cemetery for British soldiers. On the bottom of each headstone there was a small quote of remembrance from the family of the dead soldier.

The only way I can think to describe it is that it really made it seem real. It made me think of this soldier and those he left behind. Some stones had words about his life as a soldier or sailor. Those made me think of what he did for his country.

One of my favorite stones read:
828101 Gunner
R.T. Dennison
53rd (Worcestershire Yeo.)
Airlanding Light Regt. R.A.
6th June 1944 Age 29
“No one knows how much I miss him or the heartache for the one I loved so”
I think that all the details about the soldier, R.T. Dennison really help to make it much more real. It is hard to describe what I’m trying to say. The fact that it lists his rank, what he did, and especially his age helps me picture what R.T. Dennison might have been like. The age alone really helps put it into perspective because I can think if my friends and family that are that age.

The reason I really liked this stone was because of the quote that, I’m guessing his wife, had engraved at the bottom. It really made me think much more about what it was like to lose someone in the war. It made me think of what Dennison had to sacrifice for his country and the one left behind.

I really believe that if the crosses at the American Cemetery were a bit more personalized with a quote like the British ones were it would have been more real for me.

I really hope that this makes sense.

I also really hope that you are not taking me the wrong way. I don’t want to sound like I am not grateful. I don’t want to sound like I am not sad by the many, many men (and a few women) that were buried in the American Cemetery.

I think that I must stress the fact that I quietly walked through the rows and rows of crosses by myself. The wind was whipping at my many layers of clothing and threatening to take my hat right off of my head. There were few other people in the cemetery at the time. I was reading the names and home states of the soldiers.

I did not cry.

I just thought.

I tried to think about what they gave and what it would be like if they had not sacrificed their lives. What would the world be like today if so many had not stepped up. It’s hard to imagine.