Colleville-sur-Mer, France

Northern France is not your typical tourist destination in mid-winter. But last January the weather was relatively mild, and after stopping in Paris, I decided to go see the Normandy beaches and countryside. Late in the day I arrived at Colleville-sur-Mer, where the American cemetery is located. The soft winter sun cast a pastel light on the miles of crosses stretching along the bluffs, protected by trees pointing skyward to the softly painted clouds. There was almost no one there to witness this impressive scene, which added a feeling of loneliness and isolation to the serene beauty of the setting. It evoked, for me, feelings of awe and appreciation for the magnitude of the sacrifices made here in the cause of freedom.