"Normandy, the Ultimate Sacrifice of the Greatest Generation" -Time Out #67

American Patriotism

What powerful words.

They are so complex because today we certainly have a major-league complex society.

Since I was a little lad following along in my father's larger than life shadow, I have seen patriotism up close and personal.

Our family lost my mother in 1951 from dreaded colon cancer, my two siblings and I grew up in a single-parent household, the patriarch being Col. C.H. Breedlove.

Yes, Col. Breedlove, as in 28-year active duty Air Force eventually military retired veteran of WWII.

My older brother, C.H. Jr., was an Army captain, awarded a regular Army commission by being a top tier Army R.O.T.C. graduate at his alma mater, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

My first two years of undergraduate education at Oklahoma State, I took four semesters of Air Force R.O.T.C. Following my OSU education, I joined the Army Reserves, and served a few years in the active Army Reserves before being accepted into medical school in 1970.

So, from very early on in my life, the military and, therefore, American patriotism, was firmly instilled and cemented into my brain, and, thus, my personality.

Every time an American flag would pass, the national anthem would play or I would see a soldier in his military dress uniform, I became button-popping proud and instantly was covered with goose bumps.

Not to mention, for years growing up and still continuing today, I love American military magazines, plays. movies and all things patriotic toward the good ol' US of A.

Folks, we truly have a great, great country we call home.

Now to the meat and potatoes of this brief discussion---D-Day and Normandy, France, June 6, 1944.

For years and years and years, I saw scenes of this incredible undertaking and marveled at our so-called Greatest Generation of America's finest doing the absolute impossible on desolate French beaches.

I thought in my mind's eye how could this have happened when the Allied Forces were metaphorically backed up into an absolute corner?

Yes, it did happen. And, yes, because of this historic event, the Allies went on to win that horrible war. Otherwise, we probably would be speaking German today.

I have visited these historic sites in person three times now, and on each visit, I have been brought to speechlessness, trying to totally capture the moments in my mind forever.

The French countryside in the Normandy section of the country is incredibly serene. It is so difficult for me to grasp the human carnage that happened there over 72 years ago.

It seemed like yesterday (actually several years ago) when my family first visited these hallowed sites. Carefully, I looked down from the steep cliffs of Omaha Beach to the narrow strips of sand and the pounding Atlantic Ocean waters that seemed to go on forever across the vast horizon.

It was unbelievable to me, then young, 18+Year-old, mostly American soldiers made their surprise landings via amphibious vehicles, waded through the rough, cold, ocean waters, crawled on their stomachs across the narrow sand beaches at a snail's pace due to the constant German gunfire high above on the cliffs. Then, the Allies attempted to scale the very steep cliffs via various techniques, making very easy targets for the enemy firepower. Needless to say, many, many brave invaders never made it, or were severely wounded. True patriots? That goes without saying.

The ultimate humbling feature of the entire Normandy experience is the large American cemetery, which is actually on U.S. soil (a gift from France). It is just above the historic cliffs, and it is beyond beautiful. Not only is it immaculately maintained, but trying to wrap your mind around the hundreds of white tombstones perfectly aligned, and the peacefulness of the surroundings, is really difficult to comprehend.

The educational experience of the area museums, small surrounding towns, quiet French countryside full of flowers, domestic animals and friendly local people. are all inspiring and highly recommended by me. However, the absolute pinnacle of the emotional experience is definitely the peaceful American cemetery.

Standing, kneeling, or sitting in that lovely cemetery reduces the entire experience to one common denominator----it is an honor to be an American patriot.