Reading this article, has now put my life into a better perspective.

Thank you.

What a stirring heartfelt article!
Jim Bitterman has sucessfully conveyed in words to me what their sacrifice really means, and although I haven't been there, I think I understand better. You should post this article every rememberance or veterans day.

YESTERDAY, A DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET, I SAW THE D-DAY CEREMONY AT THE BLUFFS OVER OMAHA BEACH, IN NORMANDY, WHERE THE GRAVES OF OUR AMERICAN BOYS AND THE BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF OUR ALLIES ARE FOUND. IT IS A GREAT TESTAMENT TO THE HONOR AND DECENCY OF CBS, THAT THEY WOULD TRANSMIT THIS EVENT LIVE, AND WORLD-WIDE, ON THE INTERNET, SO THAT PEOPLE OF MY GENERATION, WHOSE FATHERS AND UNCLES STRUGGLED IN THAT WAR, COULD COME TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF JUST WHAT THOSE YOUNG MEN DID.
OF THE FOUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AT THAT CERMONY, I WILL NOT FORGET EULOGY DELIVERED SO PASSIONATELY, BY THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE! I HAVE A NEW OPINION OF HIM. HE IS NOT ONLY A GREAT ORATOR, BUT HE IS A MAN OF HISTORY!
HE GRIEVED OPENLY FOR THESE YOUNG BOYS - AMERICAN, BRITISH, CANADIAN, FRENCH, POLISH, AND OTHERS WHO DIED THERE, AND IN THE FOLLOWING FIGHTING-AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS HERE, AT NORMANDY, ON D-DAY, THAT THE NEW WORLD ORDER BEGAN-THAT THE FREE EUROPE EMERGED, AND ALL THAT HAS COME SINCE-FOR IF OUR DEAR BOYS HAD NOT STORMED THOSE BEACHES, WHAT WOULD HAVE BECOME OF EUROPE WOULD BE TOO HORRIBLE TO CONTEMPLATE--AND THAT WE OWE ALL THAT WE HAVE AND ALL THAT WE ARE TO THESE BRAVE, FALLEN SOULS! THAT'S MORE OR LESS WHAT THE FRENCH PRESIDENT SAID!

Touching article, just amazing.

No words left, just a sincere, deep THANK YOU to all of those who gifted us the right to be humans – and to Mr. Bittermann, who paid our grandparents a beautiful homage. Let us never forget.

I arrived at the cemetery at 8:30 in the morning and at the round about going into the cemetery,I was told that without an "invitation" I would be unable to honor my older brothers in arms and that I had to go elsewhere. I then went to Arromanche where I celebrated with the soldiers who came from Britain,as I did for the 60th Anniversary as well. It's a shame that on this day,you could sit with,talk with,and shake hands with the British vets from D-Day,but without an invitation,you weren't allowed anywhere near the American vets.

Imagine a car full of bright eyed children being driven hundreds of kilometers only to be told to go elsewhere because they didn't have an invitation. The day that should have been set aside for the brave men and women who served in Normandy,was once again hijacked by politicians at Colleville s/Mer. Satisfaction did come again from the British who got it right again this time and let us thank their brave men and women up close without the pomp and circumstance of invitations.

Working here at the VA in NYC I see everyday the men amd women who served so proudly and gave our freedom...I thank them every day for the sacrifice they made.They are the true heros of that generation.....

Visit this cemetery if you can as it is a stunning tribute..there are many crosses of the unknown category..you can stop and say a prayer over and over that their sacrifices were not forgotten..going down to one of the beaches is also good. The distance between Europe and England is so small..it is a wonder that England was not invaded..so one thinks about all of that when visiting, too.

Great article ! CNN needs to replace Wolf Blitzer with Jim Bitterman.

Thank you for talking the time to write about a sacred place in a far away land, well done.

12B2PABN So sorry to hear about you being turned away on your family's day. It is amazing how all to often how the paper pushers of the world take such a sacred day.This my friend is your day, it is your family's day, it is a day of every mother, father, sister, brother who made the ultimate sacrifice. Soldiers never forget soldiers

I agree, Jim, and thank you for writing this. I wish EVERY American - especially students - could walk these silent rows of crosses to truly understand the price of the freedoms we take so lightly.

Sixty-five years is a long time in human memory. Time is a great leveler for the importance of events in history. D-Day is one of those events that has not diminished in its importance for the freedom of mankind. So many Americans fought and died that day not to secure their own freedom but to set people free on another continent. These young men had their whole lives before them. For many of them it ended in the water or on the beaches of Normandy. It is great that their sacrifice is still remembered, appreciated and honored today. I hope to some day visit the cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer. I would expect to have the same feelings experienced at Arlington and Gettysburg.
Thank you for your articleJim from another proud American.