Normandy was a very eye-opening trip. Having lived in a country that has not tasted war on its own soil for a couple of centuries now, I don't think that I have ever fully understood the cost of war. Touring the WWII Museum, walking along Omaha Beach, and visiting German and American museums all drove home the grave reality of what WWII cost. Rows and rows of the graves of men who were cut down in the prime of their lives for ideals that were (for the most part) not their own was extremely sobering. I found myself thinking about ideals and philosophies, and the fact that ideas can have extremely serious consequences. The faulty ideals of one man in power resulted in mass carnage all over Europe. How can this be avoided in the future, and how do the philosophies and political trends of today correspond to what has happened in the past?

The most poignant moment for me came as we visited the American cemetery in Normandy. We were surrounded by other Americans, many of them older- surely many were there to see the graves of parents/uncles or aunts/grandparents, etc. It was a beautiful cemetery, and there was a big wall that was inscribed with all of the names of the American men that gave their lives in France during the war. At the hour, the national anthem rang out across the cemetery- everyone stopped standstill and pledged to the flags that were flying high over the cemetery. I will never in my life forget that moment. With tears streaming down my face, I have never felt more proud to be American. My people came and gave their lives in order to give the French people (and essentially the rest of Europe) freedom. What an righteous, honorable, sacrificial act of service. No matter what people say about my country and even what CITIZENS of my country say...we have MUCH to be proud of.