this picture was taken just earlier this month at juno beach in normandy, france. it looks beautiful and peaceful now, but i can assure you that the intensity and electricity in the air is very potent from the moment you get there. the ground is completely littered with destroyed bunkers and (now grass-covered) craters and divots, where thousands of grenades and explosives went off on D DAY. it really tugs at your humanity when you see a site where tens of thousands died for a cause that was so important and crucial to the world. when i was there, i found a quiet spot on the hills, with a bird's eye view of the beach below and the vast ocean beyond. i swear i could almost smell the cordite in the air, and see the blood in the water. it's a strange feeling to feel such pride for your country, yet feel such anxiety and sadness for all the people that died there- so many weren't even trained soldiers. i can't imagine the fear of a young german soldier looking out on the ocean from inside a bunker, and seeing a massive armada coming for you. and i can't imagine the fear of a young american soldier, standing against the gate of an assault boat without being able to see until the last second, when the gate swings down, leading to your near-certain death. some already had courage, some had to muster it, and some never found it. this is a picture of the most humbling day of my life.