Trees and War/ June 6

A tree on Dog
Red Beach, Normandy

Almost 80 years ago on an upcoming morning was the Normandy Invasion; D-day.  It appears today without much fanfare, fuss and feathers, and the like.  Maybe we are getting close to our limit of war or tolerance of it and, in particular politicians who talk about the grandeur of the undertaking.  The grunt in the field probably doesn't share the enthusiasm.

I happened upon the picture (above) of a scrubby little tree in the midst of bomb craters on Dog Red Beach in Normandy. Dog Red was the name given to one sector of Omaha Beach and pretty much smack dab in the center of things. I doubt there was a tree to be seen and that got me to thinking.

The clump of trees on the
right was the focal point

Trees are focal points of sorts.  They mark and decorate our property as living landmarks.  I'll meet you by the tree is a clear as a bell remark.  When Pickett charged at Gettysburg (150+ years ago next month) the "target of the charge, when the line was to converge, was a group of trees on the right.  All accounts depict the trees after the battle as useless bits of splinters.

Mulling this over this morning I noted some trees on the far south of the property, up against the bay backdrop. Their enemies have been hurricanes, humans, lots of dogs and not infrequent storms 

Our trees

(nor'easters) and have survived pretty well.  In fact very well considering.  They survived so well in the elements due to their type and perhaps, just perhaps, no one dropped a bomb nearby or used them as a target. The rough and tumbles of nature were testing but not life threatening. Bombs and hot lead -  well not so good.

I think people are like trees.

Just a thought on the upcoming anniversary of a day of carnage.