The Fallen 9000 - A D-Day Memorial
From the article:
Andy Moss and myself from Sand In Your Eye developed the idea of the Fallen Project together to mark Peace Day. The objective was to make a visual representation of 9000 people drawn in the sand which equates the number of Civilians, Germans Forces and Allies that died during the D-day landings, 6 th June during WWII as an example of what happens in the absence of peace.
On the day we had 60-70 confirmed volunteers that had travelled from around the world to help. We knew that this was not enough to complete the project in the 4.5 hours that we had so at 3pm when we were about to begin we were overwhelmed by the hundreds of people that turned up to help. Myself and Andy then began to explain the task ahead and together did a demonstration on how to make a stencil in the sand. However, when we lifted the stencil I realized that we had just made together the first of the Fallen, a representation of a person that once lived, they had parents, family friends. This person had died prematurely due to a conflict and we were marking his passing. When I make a sculpture or a drawing in my imagination that person is for a moment very much there, I will often find myself talking to them to see what they are thinking and how they are feeling, there becomes a connection between me and them. The person that we had drawn was very present indeed, we had made a connection and I was for a moment overwhelmed and Andy Moss had to continue.
The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the invasion of German-occupied western Europe, led to the restoration of the French Republic, and contributed to an Allied victory in the war.
Today is the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. 9000 fell that day.
Remembering those who have given their lives in war time is not "generic", unless your mind is that shallow.
Thank you for posting this Grumpy, may they all Rest In Peace.
And notice just how quickly it took for someone to denigrate the thoughts.The individual obviously needs to be reminded of just what It has cost us in blood to preserve his/her rightsto being a putz.Freedom is not Free by a long shot! Gratefully I was not there as I had my own little adventure taking place at the time, on Bougainville Island. Nice catch Grumpy Nigel, thanks!
My father was in India at the time.
I had to Google Bougainville Island Campaign. Glad you made it out alive, Tsula, and I know you paid a very high price for your service to our country. You are one of my heros. Thank you for all you have done.
Sure they were, they were bored with killing the Jews and French so this was a diversion!
No hero then or now. Scared out of my Jockeys at the time. Nasty business but thanks all the same!
You are modest, as ever. That's why you are one of my heroes.
Great find Grump.
May the Creator smile on each and every man that made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.
In memory of PFC Monroe Wilcox. KIA, ''Battle of the Bulge''. December 1944.
Waanakiwin Shinnob.
Grandfather, you are a hero. You have gained the respect of many a man and woman on this site.
Hero, not so much. But this; respect of many a man and woman on this site. I am truly proud of!! Medals and junk are long gone but this lives for me as a great accomplishment. Thank you!!
You are most welcome Tsula.
I read the article Robert. It was ''Peace Day'', showing the horrors of war. ''
From the article, ''Monika Kershaw was there
remembering her son and his colleagues that Died in Afganastan and even wrote in their names beside them. George, a veteran who was on the D-Day beaches was also there and embraced the importance of the project as demonstrating the result of conflict.
My husband uncle landed on Omaha Beach and lived to have a full and wonderful life. He was a hero and never talked about it. He only talked about his friends who died that day. Thank you Grump for reminding us of the great gift those men gave the world.
Nope. They don't talk about it. Few of the men who have seen such things do.