>I also liked the adjacent scene (which I think was technically the opening scene), the one with the old man visiting the military cemetary in Normandy, row upon row of markers for the soldiers who died there. When the movie came out there were some in the movie chat groups who mocked it as sentimental, but I disagreed with them then and still do.<

It's hard to really get the essence of it from a movie, but that cemetery is absolutely sobering ... and I'm not even sure that's the right word I want to use. Gary and I visited the Normandy D-Day beaches and the cemetery (on Memorial Day ...how appropriate!!) and we were both very surprised at our own reactions ... we both got very choked up just walking around the cemetery ... and neither of us even have any relatives who fought in the War. I don't know what it is about that place, but it was a very emotional visit.

If you ever find yourself in the north of France, a visit to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery is a "must-see"!!

~~Bonnie