As we approach Memorial Day, we must always remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  From those men who lost their lives fighting for our independence in the 18th century, to those who fought to keep our union in tact in the 19th century, to those who fought for the freedom of our allies in the 20th century, and finally to those in the current century fighting those who want to destroy innocent people, we owe them all a debt that we can never repay.

There was an editorial in today's Wall Street Journal urging all Americans to visit our military cemeteries overseas.  I had the privilege of going to Normandy about 3 years ago, and it was an experience I will never forget.  Seeing these Americans buried in France makes you realize that our guys have not only sacrificed themselves for our freedom, but for that of so many throughout the world.

There are more opportunities than ever to visit these historic sites.  Normandy, for example, can be visited not only when traveling the roads of France, but can also be accessed from cruise ships and river cruises.  There is a lot to see there, and it can easily be a full day between all of the landing sites and memorials.  And what could be a better way to honor our fallen than to go stand on their final resting place?

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog.  As the owner of Sand & C Travel in Boynton Beach, FL I wanted to share some of my views and experiences.   This is my first entry, and am going to start with some thoughts on travel to Europe.   I will be interested to hear your opinions.

We have all been deeply saddened by recent world events targeting innocent civilians.  No words can mitigate the personal loss to those affected.  We certainly understand that many people are fearful to travel to areas that have been targeted by terrorists.  Travel, just as almost everything else we do in life, does have its risks.  Each individual has to weigh those risks and decide what they are comfortable with.    After all, a vacation is something to look forward to.

Personally, I am continuing to travel to Europe without much hesitation.  The fact is that a very small number of people have been directly impacted by the acts of terrorists.   Currently, my daughter is spending a semester studying in Spain.  This summer, Cathy and I are taking a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords out of Amsterdam.  We are planning to spend a couple of nights in that amazing city. 

The media sensationalizes bad news to the point of causing fear.  When an incident does take place, it is on the news 24 hours a day, not to mention the headlines of newspapers and websites.  This constant bombardment of scary pictures has to take its toll.  But my daughter shared with me something that helped me gain a better perspective.  While studying in Spain, she met a girl from Scotland who is also studying at the university.  This girl’s parents won’t let her visit the United States, because they perceive it is too dangerous to walk down the street with all of the gun violence in this country.    So some Europeans won’t travel to America and some Americans won’t travel to Europe.  Are our fears immobilizing us?

Alan Rosen

President, Sand & C Travel