Hallowed Grounds

An inspiring, humbling and touching film! I cried most the way through. Every time I dried up the narrator would quote some poignant piece of poetry or tragic tale of those buried there, and I was reaching for tissues again. So many, many unlived lives. Now that I'm middle-aged, I can better appreciate how much these young people sacrificed. The 25+years and joys I can look back on since I was their age were lost by these Americans, so that others and future generations remained free. Usually a cynical sort, I've seldom felt such fierce pride in my country re: the heroes it left in those fields. In our recent history we've squandered portions of the goodwill and esteem earned by these sacrifices, so its very moving to see schoolchildren on fieldtrips paying homage to these Americans. Their recognition and understanding of the heroism was easy and instant facing so many thousands of headstones and names. The tributes paid by locals were also moving. I have never heard the Star-Spangled Banner sung in French...a whole community learned it immediately after liberation, so they could sing it as a tribute, and it can still be sung by those now gray. I was amazed at the beauty of these grounds and memorials. I'm so glad and grateful these families chose to allow their internment where they were lost, as a permanent reminder of their heroism.