​Weathering the Storm with the WP#70

Well, the time gets closer to my travels abroad and I have never been busier. I certainly prefer the organized chaos and the nomadic existence. I love that I can be anywhere and still effectively arrange amazing travel adventures for my clients and that the passion is still there even with all the craziness that is in the world today and probably has always been. 

Last week, we celebrated those that gave their lives in the defense of freedom of our country and yes, we are in the un-official start of summer, but today is also a very important day in history and the world has not been the same since. Today, June 6th, 78 years ago, was D-Day, which was the code name for the landings on the Normandy Beaches by the Allies during World War II to liberate Europe from the Nazi tyranny that had been there since 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland to mark the start of the bloodiest war in human history. There were 5 beaches names Utah, Juno, Sword, Gold, and “Bloody” Omaha. ​

Utah and Omaha were invaded by the Americans, Sword and Gold by the British and Juno by the Canadians and while casualties were lighter on other beaches, and I don’t take any casualties lightly, Omaha was the worst in terms of casualties, and the most famous of the beaches because of this and the subject of movies or TV Shows, like “The Longest Day” or “Saving Private Ryan” or “Band of Brothers”. The were some 2400 American casualties on Omaha Beach alone. Omaha, before the invasion was known as Cote D’Or, or Gold Coast, but on that fateful day, the place changed forever. The result was that the Allies secured a beachhead and moved inland, and the rest is history as they say and some 11 months later, the war in Europe was over, but the cost was very high. ​

The men and women who fought and died on that day, many are buried in the American Cemetery in Coleville, France, which was given by the French to the Americans as hallowed ground to bury the dead who fought there and died in the defense of freedom and in the liberation of Europe. And just like Arlington Cemetery or Gettysburg or Pearl Harbor or any other place of honor for the fallen in war, this cemetery is without question, one of the most beautiful places on earth and it is taken care of with reverence. Those that fought and died, must be honored, and remembered and very few from World War II remain, as they are in their 90’s, a kid 18 years of age in 1944, would be 95 or 96 now. If you meet one, thank them as they soon will all be gone. Of course, there is a British Cemetery for their war dead and many civilians died because of the battle that raged that day and beyond. ​

I believe that every American, regardless of their background needs to make this pilgrimage to see what these selfless people did so you can “do” what you want now. It frustrates me still that people believe they can do what they want and get away with it and have no consequences for their actions, but these people who fought and died so you can act they way you do, did not have a choice, so think about that and the ultimate sacrifice and decades later, this is playing out. As I mentioned last week, I have been to Normandy, and Gettysburg and Pearl Harbor among many other battlefields of history, some very well known, some more obscure, and I come away with an appreciation for what happened at that location even if there is not much left. When you go to Normandy and you look out at the English Channel, you see the remnants of the mulberries, the artificial harbors that were towed across the channel to help secure the beachheads and this all could have failed, but somehow, it succeeded. I have also looked out at the channel and imagined the 1000’s of ships out there and if you have an appreciation of history, you can visualize the armada. It was there and once again, thank you to all those who served our country and shout out to the Greatest Generation that fought and died so that we do have the freedoms we have. You will not be forgotten!!!
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!

Selected imagery from Pixabay - Used under Creative Commons Licenses*