The events of September 11made many look at freedom differently, since these attacks indirectly assaultedour freedom. But what about World War II? It was only 60 years ago. Wasn't ourfreedom assaulted then? Many hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in thatwar; weren't they also sacrificed for freedom? How could so many Americans forgetwhat our freedom cost?

The memory of freedom's cost has dimmed becauseour generation has not experienced it. Sure, we've seen pictures and heardstories, but we have never truly visualized it. In comparison, our generation sawthe September 11 attacks minute by minute. They were very real. At the same time,it's easy to think of these attacks as just another movie. It was just that,wasn't it? I used to think so too, but a trip to Europe changed myperspective.

My family toured several war museums because my brother and Iare intrigued with old tanks and planes. We discovered stories about thesoldiers, and read their letters to loved ones that talked about the horrors ofthe battlefields. I also read about how soldiers were saved from a bullet becauseit hit a pocket Bible or a canteen. But they're just stories, aren'tthey?

At one of the museums we watched a film. Imagine the openingsequence of "Saving Private Ryan" - German planes and machine-gunbatteries tearing apart the allied troops - just a movie, right? Now imagine thefootage in black and white, with flashes of machine-gun fire, and narrationexplaining that the film was recovered from a German aircraft. It was a shockthat this was not a movie. It really happened.

After seeing the footage, Iknew these images would stay with me forever. I also knew that my view of WWIIwas changing. I started connecting those survival stories with real people; Iimagined a brother, a son, a father or husband writing a letter home or showing afriend the canteen with a bullet in it. They weren't just stories anymore; theyhad real faces. War can seem so impersonal, which I think is one of the reasonswhy our generation has been separated from World War II.

My family alsovisited the American cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. It was overcastthat day, and a cool breeze was coming off the ocean. I walked to the memorialand was filled with sadness. Over 9,000 American soldiers are buried at thatbeachhead. Those men fought bravely and sacrificed their lives for freedom. I sawrow after row of crosses and Stars of David, and that image is forever etched inmy mind. We have a black and white photograph that captured the feelings of thatday. The sky is gray over endless rows of perfectly aligned graves - thephotograph is both calming and disturbing.

In another part of thatcemetery is a huge white marble wall honoring the missing in action; soldierswhose only true graves are the field where they perished. Later, my parents toldme there were separate memorials for the French, Belgian and German soldiers. Itis an unspeakable evil that requires so many memorials to honor thedead.

After visiting the Normandy beaches, World War II is no longer justimages from movies or stories from a book. It is real. There were men in that"film," those markers were their graves. And those men who wroteletters to their loved ones or survived a bullet, those graves were for theirfriends and countrymen.

When I got home, I told my friends about myexperience. They were touched, but I don't think they really understood. Theydidn't walk through the German bunkers or see the thousands of graves. As Iwalked through those abandoned bunkers, I couldn't even imagine the amount ofcourage it took to charge the German position with all those cannons pounding thebeaches. I can only hope I could have such courage under fire.

Ageneration is being formed by September 11, and changes are happening. Thegeneration that witnessed Pearl Harbor and was changed by that war is almostgone, and it will be up to our generation to make sure Pearl Harbor and September11 are not forgotten. With the one-year anniversary of September 11 long past, Irealize that those who were killed gave their lives for the same freedom as theAllied troops at Normandy. But unlike the soldiers, the victims of September 11made their sacrifice unknowingly. Regardless, they died on the altar of freedom.Freedom is not free. It has a price that is not easily paid, and should not beeasily forgotten. And that is something we all need to remember.






A European Adventure by Calvin H., Lexington, KY

My Grandma by Alexander S., Philadelphia, PA

I Thought I Was Going To Die by Sherry P., Arcadia, CA

Midnight Rendezvous in the American Southwest by Maria D., Waltham, MA

The Phoenix by Shruti D., New Delhi, India