History is the best teacher but yet is ignored on constant basis.
I too have been to Normandy. My youngest son wanted to go there so we took him when he was 12. We stayed in a little camping park with cabins right off the beach about about a 1/2 mile down from the cemetery. I was suprised about the emotional affect that the cemetery had on me. None of the other sights had that affect of that invasion but walking through the cemetery looking at the names of all those young men will bring tears to you with a heavy heart.I was in Normandy on business during the 50 year anniversary of D-Day in June 1995. I stood on beaches still seeing military equipment in water, caissons, pill boxes on cliffs. Stood in pill boxes overlooking beaches. Heart wrenching realizing how many soldiers died in front of this position. Numbing. I toured the cemetery of rows of white crosses. Sat on same bench in Saving Private Ryan movie. Cried my eyes out along with fellow Americans there. The experience, the immensity of the horror our soldiers went through was felt to the core of your soul. Almost 30 years later, I can still recall the horrible feelings standing in the pill boxes.
IMO, EVERY American should experience standing in the "shoes" of what our greatest generation went through. Feel the horror and overwhelming sadness of realizing the loss of life that occurred here to defend our freedom.
I feel sad that I believe our country can never be what it once was.