Trip to Normandy a reminder of sacrifices that make America great
I recently returned from touring Normandy, France, for the first time — another bucket list item bites the dust — and it was every bit the moving and emotional experience I expected. Strolling through the serenity of the American cemetery, the crashing waves of Omaha Beach in the distance, I was enveloped by a confluence of sheer awe and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude at the sacrifices of America’s greatest generation that preserved freedom and liberty around the world.
Graphic visions of the violent and gory — but historically accurate — opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan” permeated my consciousness. To be sure, freedom is not free. Cliche? Sure. But truer words have never been spoken.
What really amazed me was that, despite the multitude of other tourists milling about, I experienced an overwhelming feeling of solitude as I read many of the names on the crosses and Stars of David that marked the final resting spots of our D-Day heroes. Unexpected thoughts began shooting around in my head like a pinball machine.
I thought about the many members of my family that have served in the military. Most notably, my late father-in-law, Howard E. Boyd Jr., a highly decorated Lieutenant Colonel in the Army. Relaxing after weekly Sunday dinners years ago with my in-laws, he would, over a glass (or two) of brandy, vividly recount stories of combat in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The soldiers he commanded would call him “the luckiest man alive” for all the times he cheated death.
I thought about a distant cousin, General Melvin Zais, an Army four-star general who served in World War II and Korea, and was Commander of NATO forces in Southeast Europe in the 1970s. That’s quite a military pedigree in my lineage — yet I never served. On that latter point, I sometimes feel a bit guilty having never served as I happily enjoy the freedom and liberty preserved by the sacrifices of our brave military. Being in Normandy palpably magnified that feeling. I suppose my answer to that has been to display my patriotism enthusiastically and unapologetically, and regularly donate to various military charities. Simply put, just be a fellow American worthy of their sacrifice.
Lastly, I thought that of the 16 houses on my cul-de-sac, I am the only house that proudly flies Old Glory each and every day. Not shaming anyone, simply an observation. A sign of the times? Maybe. A recent Gallup poll showed that only 65% of Americans are extremely or very proud to be American. That’s down from 87% in 2001, the first year of that poll. And among 18-34-year-olds, the numbers are significantly lower. If this trajectory doesn’t change, the country surely will — and not for the better.
In my opinion, America has clearly lost its way vis-a-vis patriotism, love of country, and gratitude and reverence for the military. Folks would be wise to categorically reject the extreme divisiveness being peddled by various political actors and activists in this country, and lean into our most fundamental and unifying commonality that transcends any aspect of identity — simply being a proud citizen of the wonderful melting pot of America. And a trip to Normandy somewhere along the way sure wouldn’t hurt either.