Day 12 - D-Day Tour

I've read the history books in school and watched the popular movies and TV specials about the Allied Forces invasion of the Normandy coast in June 1944, but nothing can prepare one for the powerful experience of visiting the towns, beaches, memorials and cemetaries where history was made 70 years ago.

We had signed up for a full-day guided tour with a local tour company and spent the day with four other tourists and our guide, Guillame, who was well versed in the history of the D-Day invasion and adept at getting us to many different sites between Ste-Mere-Eglise (where an American paratrooper was snagged on the church steeple) to Omaha beach and the American cemetary (where nearly 10,000 US soldiers are buried).  The sheer immensity of the invasion planning and execution is staggering; the risks of the operation were incredibly high, but what was at stake was nothing less than the liberty of France and Europe and in all likelihood, the Americas.

Our day was capped off with our visit to the American cemetary.  Ir took my breath away seeing the thousands of white crosses and knowing that each represented a life given to ensure freedom for others.  I hoped that each of those lost soldiers was now at peace somewhere and feeling satisfaction and joy of having been part of something so grand, so important that there were no regrets at having made such a sacrifice for others in this world.  

For those of you reading this blog, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Normandy, you should seize the opportunity to visit these hallowed sites and absorb the story of this place and those who were part of this historical event.  We cannot let the memory of these places and people fade as we lose the last survivors of this battle.  They gave so much for so many.    -  John

Church at Ste-Mere-Eglise (zoom in on steeple to see faux paratrooper snagged.  In reality he was on opposite side of steeple)

Stained glass inside church showing paratroopers

Inside church

St Michael (zoom in and see many parachutes in the stained glass)

German bunker near Utah Beach

Beach grass, barbed wire and French & American flags

German bunker near Omaha Beach

Guillame showing German gunner position atop bunker

Turret position for large German artillery

Cliffs at Pointe du Hoc that Allied Forces needed to scale

Large concrete slab called "Mulberry,"o ne of 500 made in England and floated across the Channel to create harbor and bridges to support supply transport

Reflection pool at American Cemetary

Monument at American Cementary

Lilly Pads on Reflection Pool