Sunday, May 29, 2011

In Honored Glory


There is an American cemetery in Draguignan, France, where the casualties of the southern invasion were interred. We visited the Rhone American Cemetery last spring.

There was a long-stemmed rose propped against a white marble headstone, one of more than 850 in the cemetery. I didn't have the courage to take a picture of it. It seemed too intrusive to photograph someone's grieving tribute to a soldier killed so long ago.





Nous serons insurmontables si nous demeurons unis dans la charite.
We will be invincible if we live united in charity.

The American Battle Monuments Commission, the guardian of all the overseas cemeteries and memorials, has a Facebook page. It is filled with touching tributes, among them posts from people in France and elsewhere who have "adopted" the care of the graves of American servicemen from both World Wars. Some even wish to connect with their families.

So, on this Memorial Day, what will you be thinking of?  Peace, surely. A rose, maybe. Tribute, certainly.

5 comments:

Carol said...

Your description of the rose and your moving reaction to seeing it had more impact on me than the photo would have.

This cemetery is so beautiful, the mosaics exquisite. I am off now to visit the Facebook page, and to reflect on the meaning of this weekend.

Anonymous said...

Marc said...

Very nice, Sue

Johanna said...

Visiting the American Cemetery at Normandy was an incredibly moving experience. I stood there, looked out at all the white crosses, and thought about how each cross represented a beautiful young American soldier who died too young. The memory still brings tears to my eyes. May their spirit still see how much their bravery meant and gave to all of us today.

BFL said...

Thank goodness there were and are men and women willing to defend us.

Sharon said...

Beautifully said Mrs. JP