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13 Omaha Beach, Normandy, France (May 13, 2014)

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A young girl frozen in mid-air, lighthearted and running past a steel sculpture. Life. Future. Hope. Happiness.

And yet in a different moment, in this same space, metal flew at speed into flesh. Here soldiers lay frozen in death, utterly still, surrounded by great mangledness and noise, and blood in sand.

Looking at this girl frozen in her happiness, I wonder if, on June 6, 1944, any of the 34,250 soldiers motoring toward Omaha Beach on a landing craft imagined, even for a moment, a young girl one day running happily on the sand before them. Did any find strength through a vision of a future beyond themselves? A vision of something good and beautiful beyond this hellish day?

Looking at this girl, I imagine sacrifices made in the past. I also imagine my neighbors who are yet to be born, and who I will never know. How far into the future does our love, our sense of responsibility, extend?

__________


The sculpture, entitled Les Braves, was created by Anilore Banon for the 60th anniversary of D-Day in 2004.
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Joel Carillet
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And Who Is My Neighbor?
A young girl frozen in mid-air, lighthearted and running past a steel sculpture. Life. Future. Hope. Happiness.<br /> <br /> And yet in a different moment, in this same space, metal flew at speed into flesh. Here soldiers lay frozen in death, utterly still, surrounded by great mangledness and noise, and blood in sand.<br /> <br /> Looking at this girl frozen in her happiness, I wonder if, on June 6, 1944, any of the 34,250 soldiers motoring toward Omaha Beach on a landing craft imagined, even for a moment, a young girl one day running happily on the sand before them. Did any find strength through a vision of a future beyond themselves? A vision of something good and beautiful beyond this hellish day?<br /> <br /> Looking at this girl, I imagine sacrifices made in the past. I also imagine my neighbors who are yet to be born, and who I will never know. How far into the future does our love, our sense of responsibility, extend?<br /> <br /> __________<br /> <br /> <br /> The sculpture, entitled Les Braves, was created by Anilore Banon for the 60th anniversary of D-Day in 2004.