Reflection
From the beginning I had always held a fascination for history. However, this interest seems miniscule (now) to the great appreciation I have developed for history. Traveling from Washington DC to France (Normandy and Paris) was a truly amazing experience. Throughout the days the Normandy Institute was carried out, I was able to not only see where history took place but also be a part of the past. World War II seems like a thing of the past but it’s not! Strolling along the very shores of Omaha and Utah Beach, vital sites for the D-Day Invasion, one can somewhat picture what it would have been like in 1944. History just revives itself. One can imagine the translucent sea water become that of a reddish color due to the excessive amount of blood shed by countless soldiers. Along with this, one can also picture footprints along the beach that suddenly stop, replacing these would be bodies of adolescent boys, around my age, fighting for their homeland. God Bless them. This was one of the most emotional aspects of the institute, coping with a reality that happened a few decades ago. It was unbelievably true. The invasion and the outcome was a horrible truth that ultimately won us the war against the Axis Powers. Even though the war is over, we seem to have forgotten what has happened. What about the men who risked their lives in honor of their nation’s prosperity? They cannot and shall never be forgotten, at least not to me or the friends I made in this institute. The students, including myself, and teachers who had the opportunity to participate in the 2013 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute: A Sacrifice for Freedom were enabled the opportunity of giving the deceased men who fought for our country a voice. We honored those fallen soldiers and acknowledged their immense sacrifice for freedom. As a part of this institute, the students and teachers are given the opportunity to visit the Normandy American Cemetery and that was one of the most emotional experiences in my entire life. I am not usually a sentimental person but when I arrived at my soldier’s tomb I just couldn’t control my emotions. It all seemed too real. However, I was able to give a special tribute to PFC, Pedro Rodón, and I felt and continue to feel blessed for having the opportunity to personally thank this World War II soldier. Throughout the Cemetery a quote echoed in my head, “We gave you our lives, now give us our voice” and that is exactly what we did! From their native land, America, to their invasion site, Normandy, we gave them their well deserved voice. There are not enough words to describe how this institute revolutionized my perception of history and war, but I can certainly say this, World War II was not just a war among nations, it was a historical event that completely transformed humanity. The 2013 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute: A Sacrifice for Freedom was a phenomenal experience that shall never be ancient history.
-Charlyne M. Cuyar
-Charlyne M. Cuyar