Friday will be my second Independence Day outside of the U.S. Though it’s a bit strange to say “Happy Fourth of July” to someone who blankly stares back at you (the equivalent of me saying “Happy First of August” to an American as Aug. 1 is Switzerland’s National Day) we still find ways to celebrate.
Revisiting D-Day in France
Last month, we celebrated another American milestone in a foreign country. For the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion, known as D-Day, we visited Normandy, France, and participated in the memorials taking place there on that hallowed ground. From the American Cemetery that is the final resting place for more than 9,000 American military members to the beaches where the troops first landed, activities celebrating the beginning of the liberation of Europe from Nazi rule were underway.
More than 160,000 Allied troops landed on those Normandy beaches June 6, 1944, under heavy fire from Nazi forces. With support from more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft, the Allies took a foothold in the European theater. The beginning of the end of World War II, though, was bought with more than 9,000 lives lost in a single day of combat.
Understanding D-Day today
Walking along Omaha Beach and looking up at the bluffs above where the American Cemetery is, it’s hard to believe the Allied troops could have won that day from such a disadvantaged point and easy to understand how so many military members died. As one soldier who participated in the memorial activities put it, to actually stand at and see from that vantage point is “shocking.”
Through re-enactments, history expert talks and guided tours, the 70th anniversary of D-Day was brought to life for thousands of visitors from around the globe. Being among those visitors was truly a surreal experience, being brought to life when we listened to a D-Day veteran explain the chaos and confusion of that fateful day. “I never wanted to come back here,” he said.
Remembering American sacrifices around the world
This Independence Day we’ll be at an American bar and restaurant, aptly named Stars and Stripes, celebrating with colleagues from Switzerland, India, Hong Kong and Portugal. As we toast to our great country, we’ll remember the sacrifices made by so many that allow us the choice to live the expat life. We’ll be grateful to come from a country with a proud history and no exit visas. We’ll say “Happy Fourth of July” and smile when others give us blank looks as we try to relate how much has gone into and continues to support those four little words.
-Monica
