Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Unfortunately, with the decline of teaching and interest in history in a large percentage of the population of our country today, many don't know of or care about Normandy.

This year, British artist Jamie, accompanied by numerous volunteers, took to the beaches of Normandy with rakes and stencils in hand to etch 9,000 silhouettes representing fallen people into the sand. It is estimated that casualties of the D-Day invasion were up to 9,000 allied soldiers (Great Britain, Canadian and American).

Titled "The Fallen 9000", the piece is meant as a stark visual reminder of those who died during the D-Day beach landings at Normandy on June 6th, 1944 during WWII.

Got this from Kerry Hansen and wanted to share with Y'all


The original team consisted of 60 volunteers but as word spread nearly 500 additional local residents arrived to help with the temporary installation that lasted only a few hours before being washed away by the tide.

9,000 Fallen Soldiers Etched into the Sand on Normandy Beach to Commemorate Peace Day at Arromanches, a town in the midst of Normandy.

What is surprising is that nothing about this was seen here in the US.

Someone from overseas had a friend that sent it with a note of gratitude for what the US started there.

Please share with others who understand "freedom is not free-- nor has it ever been.

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

the number of people who remember of even know about it is rapidly declining. a lot of VFW's and American legions are closing for lack of membership. Honor the fallen lest we forget..........

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

WOW! That is impressive but too bad the US didn’t know about it in advance.

I wish every ‘True American’ (the rest can leave the US) ccould feel the pain that our forefathers went through to keep America free. The 9000 here is but a few that gave all.

Maid Marion Loc: Corvallis, OR

Amazing labor of respect from the people of Normandy. I remember seeing news reels of those events there and in the Pacific in the 40s.
Perspective; The invasion of Ukraine has already cost over 5x that on the Russian side alone.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Had two close up in the Charleston area from lack of members. I did not serve but to help out my Wife, Daughter and myself joined the VFW Auxiliary to help support them. I here a lot of good stories from these men and women. They just want someone to listen to them.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Wow that's a lot more then I thought. Need to end that war

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

I had to quit thinking about all the needless bloodshed through the ages - ours included !! It is very sad this has to continue. I am afraid that it will not end till the end of time. God bless those that have sacrificed and those that sacrificed all.

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

"there is no end of time... there is only the end of man"

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

And we're steaming ahead toward that.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

I enjoy the history of WWII. Not in a morbid way but always curious how it played out. My father was in the tail end of the war and liked to share stories and I ate it up. I too had not heard of the 9,000 bodies in the sand but wow, that is incredible. Thanks for sharing that Gordon.

DocB Loc: Bama

"For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know". Taken from a wall in a classroom on Paris Island, South Carolina, I don't remember the author, and may not have the quote exactly right, but the message is accurate.... Lest we forget... Semper Fi!
Doc

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

the original quote was written by Henri Rene Albert Guy de Maupassant. it was altered slightly by General Patton. Maupassant died when Patton was 8.

DocB Loc: Bama

Thanks Ripogenu,
After some 40 years, the magnitude of that quote has stayed with me....
Doc

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

I use the phrase all the time when talking to non-military types. semper fi.