While we think of Memorial Day as a time for parties and lots of food, there is of course, a serious purpose behind the day.

On Memorial Day, we bow our heads in memory and gratitude for the service members who have lost their lives in American wars.

And we share with you a photo of the beach at Normandy on the anniversary of D-Day. The organization The French Will Never Forget finds ways to show their appreciation every year – from 1 million rose petals showered over the Statue of Liberty, to placing roses on the graves of each of the 60,511 graves of U.S. soldiers fallen in France. In this photo, they have formed the message with people standing on the beach, and displaying huge French and American flags.