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Mrs TeePot

The Gallery: 70,000,000

March 9, 2010 Mrs TeePot

I know, I picked a huge number, but I was totally stumped this week so decided to browse my photos for something that struck me, and here it is:

 

I took this at St James’ cemetery in France. It is a cemetery for American soldiers and is kept beautifully by the American Battle Monuments Commision. In browsing my photos looking for inspiration I came across it and realised that I couldn’t recall just how many people died in World War II so I asked my good friend google and he informed me that it was 70 million.

Seventy Million. Such a huge number of lives lost, British, American, French, German and all those other nationalities who lost lives. Every single one of those 70 million was someone’s child, some brothers or sisters, some parents. All left family and friends behind in the fight for freedom. The sheer scale of the cemetery astounded me when I visited and that is just some of the American deaths, but to imagine 70,000,000 graves  is heartbreaking.

This photo is all the more important to me given that we still have soldiers in Afghanistan and whether we believe that that war is right or not, they are giving their lives for us and deserve our support.

It’s not a special day today, not Remembrance Sunday, but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t remember them.

This post is for Tara at Sticky Fingers Gallery It’s great fun, so hop over there and see the rest of the people taking part

Mrs TeePot

Mrs TeePot also goes by the name Livi and is a tea drinking, chocolate munching, social networking writer. She is the Snapshot Round Up writer for Britmums and also moonlights at www.urbanvox.net adding some extra raunch to their "Fun & Frolics" column.

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  • http://clinicallyfedup.com MrsW

    These places are so striking and beautiful and peaceful and words escape me. Have you ever visited Tyne Cot? It’s quite overwhelming. And Langemarcke is hauntingly beautiful.

  • http://www.mumsgoneto.blogspot.com Trish@ Mum’s Gone to

    It’s very emotional visiting these cemeteries – the crosses seem to go on to infinity and that brings home the enormous loss.
    Excellent choice for the gallery.

  • http://rosiescribble.typepad.com Rosie Scribble

    Wow. That has really made me think. The somber mood of the photo seems very fitting.

  • http://ourprivateblog.wordpress.com ourprivateblog

    We have a couple of these cemetries near where we live here in Italy – they are such moving places – good call on this photo!

  • http://karennewhouse.blogspot.com/ Brighton Mum-Teenage Angst

    Wow, sadly a huge, huge number. Lovely photo.

  • http://marisworld.wordpress.com marisworld

    I had that same overwhelming feeling in Washington when we visited the military cemetary there.
    The trouble is as we were visiting and looking at ‘famous’ graves ad that of JF Kennedy with his eternal flame there are sadly more funerals taking place in full view.
    A reminder that not all the work has been completed. Very sad but a lovely thought provoking photo

  • http://slimlens.blogspot.com/ Claire

    A really like this photo. Its very strong!

  • http://geekymummy.blogspot.com geekymumy

    Great picture, very poignant. Wasn’t it supposed to be the war to end all wars? The economist had a heart rending article about the deaths of the last surviing soldiers. http://www.economist.com/obituary/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15108655

  • http://livileah88.wordpress.com/ Livi

    MrsW – Not been to those but have seen several in France and they are stunning but so distressing at the same time.

    Trish – It is indeed very emotional, just breaks my heart.

    Marisworld – Glad it has made you think. Definitely something we all need to be remembering.

  • http://www.stickyfingers1.blogspot.com Tara@Sticky Fingers

    You’re absolutely right, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t remember them just because it isn’t a ‘set’ day.
    Wonderful photograph, wonderful sentiment. Thanks so much for joining in x

  • whatshappeningatmyhouse

    More than the whole population of the UK. Makes you stop and think, doesn’t it. Great post, really thought provoking.

  • parklover

    I went to some of the cemeteries on a school trip to France when I was about 10. The meaning of them was a bit wasted on me at the time, but I can still remember them very clearly, it’s a haunting image.
    Kath

  • http://bsouth.wordpress.com/ bsouth

    Wow. Amazing photo with so much feeling to it.

    I think you trumped me in more than just numbers.

  • http://adrenalynn.no Adrenalynn

    I have no words – what a moving photo. I can’t even begin to get my thoughts around that number.

  • http://livileah88.wordpress.com/ Livi

    So glad this photo has made you all think. It really brings it home to me the sheer scale of loss.

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