serene

We visited the American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila yesterday. It's an American run site so the grounds were beautiful and green. The Memorial was stunning and overwhelming. Thousands and thousands of soldiers names lined the walls honoring the men who were not found to place in proper graves. It was mind boggling thinking of all the men who lost their lives in World War II. The memorial also had gorgeous mosaic tiled maps of the battles and maneuverings of the war. The only word we could think to describe the place was serene. It was quiet and Addie walked around without holding our hands. We eventually sat down and let her play in the grass and gather leaves (one of her favorite games-too bad she won't experience the fall in Virginia). The chapel bells rang once in awhile and it took us back to our picnics at the Iwo-Jima Memorial and Bell tower in Arlington. We miss home very much but being at the cemetery somehow put us in friendly company, even if they were graves and names. They're still Americans.