Keeping the monument clean

Not quite a month ago I had the privilege of visiting the American Cemetery in

Normandy.  I had, of course, seen pictures of the 170 acre memorial.  I figured that the symmetry and the the stark contrast of the white crosses and stars of David against the blue sky and green grass was enhanced by photographic skill.  I was wrong.  Even on an overcast day the quiet beauty of the place is striking.

One reason, even after almost seven decades, the awe of the grounds endures is because of a man who has worked there most of his life.  All he does is clean the tombstones, over 9,000 of them.  He begins at one end of the grounds and cleans every headstone.  When he finishes he starts over again.

The American Battle Monuments

The grave of Jimmy Montieth, from LowMoor, Congressional Medal of Honor

Commission, who maintain this and other military cemeteries, uses a quotation from General John Pershing as their motto.  "Time will not dim the glory of their deeds."  Unless we purposefully take steps to preserve the memory, the glory will fade, just as the white Italian marble of those crosses would soon become green with moss and brown with mud, were it not for the ceaseless efforts of the one who keeps them clean.

We dare not live in the past, but if we are to move into the future with purpose we need to learn from it.

It's STTA