Armstrong Williams experiences D-Day beaches in France | VIDEO COMMENTARY

It was a sobering experience visiting the site of the tragic D-Day battle in Normandy, France, where 2,501 American troops were killed and more than 5,000 wounded by German forces. Witnessing the iconic beaches and long rows of gravestones filled me with emotion. The bravery and sacrifices made will forever be remembered. Normandy is a place that makes the past feel incredibly close. The memory of the battles fought here is locked in time, etched into the landscape and the monuments built commemorating the sacrifices made here. At this place, World War II veterans often come to visit, deep in the late stages of their lives, to visit the site where many of their comrades fought and died for their nation one last time.

Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.