We continued north today to the Convent of Carmel where Therese entered religious life at fifteen years old.

We viewed some of Therese’s personal items and toured the family home with many original items still in place. St. Therese’s body was not incorrupt. She was 24 years old when she died of tuberculosis from which she suffered greatly. Throughout it all, she suffered everything with great love of Jesus. This statue is said to resemble her at her death.

As we left Carmel, I stopped by the statue outdoors (upper photo) and smelled the roses nearby. I’ve never smelled roses so fragrant before. I picked several of the petals that lay on the ground to take home.

Normandy was another hour or so from Lisieux and our final destination today. Omaha Beach memorial is something I will never forget.

The monument Les Braves is located in the center of Omaha Beach (on the right) and was created to honor the memory of the men who fought and died there. I imagine most of us have seen photos of this place or movies containing scenes with thousands of white crosses, but nothing can move you quite like being there in person. Emotions ran high, as we looked at the more than 9700 crosses.

Between 1940-1942, three quarters of Europe was occupied by Nazi forces. Critical to turning the tide of the occupation and reclaiming France and the rest of Europe, was dependent on securing a beach hold.

Months of planning preceded the landing on June 6th in the early morning. (Open the photos above to see the vast scope of this planning and strategizing)

The air divisions dropped bombs while the sea assault pummeled the bluff where the Germans were dug in with big artillery.

Nothing could have prepared these men whose transports received the sheer force of the enemy retaliation. Everything had to go as planned and yet what happens when so many factors are out of one’s control? Weather, equipment, and personnel all played a part. Watching the movie, “Saving Private Ryan” in the safety of the theater was one thing, I cannot imagine the reality of what these men faced. So many lives lost in the preservation of freedom and the good of humanity. We must always respond to evil.

“Those who cannot remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.”

George Santayanna

Every one of the white crosses represents a story, a life, an extended family and friends; all connected to one another. Men as young as sixteen fought and died. Some never got off the transport, the ship or the beach.

This was only a small corner of all the horrific events of that world war. The atrocities, like nightmares come to life, needed to be defeated head-on. No one was left untouched.

As we walked by the thousands of crosses we prayed the rosary, and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. In infinite gratitude we remembered their ultimate sacrifice and souls. It was something positive that we could do for them.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jn 15:13

Who are you willing to die for? What is our response when evil takes a foot hold? Do we act, pray, or turn the other way?

Pray that we never forget their sacrifice and that of their families.

Pray that we wake up to evil rising in our own country and do something.

Pray that we will call upon and trust God, to stand courageously against evil.