Walking in History...Visiting Normandy during the D-Day Anniversary

This is probably a blog I should do in two posts but I'm going to try and do it in one.  I'll try to minimize my words and let the photos tell the story.

Over World War II's D-Day anniversary, Tom and I traveled to Normandy on a 3-day USO tour.  It was a whirlwind, jam-packed trip that maximized every moment of what were 13 to 14 hour-long days.  I had been looking forward to the trip for months and believe that visiting that historic site during the anniversary is a trip of a lifetime.  

In two-and-a-half days we visited three of the D-Day invasion beaches (Gold, Omaha and Utah); visited the American and the German cemeteries; visited Point du Hoc and Saint-Mere-Eglise; went to the Airborne Museum (although we didn't stay long because of the crowds) and the Museum of the Battle of Normandy (which is a VERY good museum); we saw the Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery and concluded the visit at Pegasus Bridge.  If you've ever seen the movie "The Longest Day" it is the bridge the British soldiers, accompanied by a bagpiper, are walking across.    

First stop was Arromanches.  In Arromanches-les-Bains is the Museum of Debarquement and Gold Beach, one of the landing beaches of the British.  The bluff overlooks Arromanches, Gold and Juno beaches.

Looking out over part of Gold Beach

A map showing the invasion - the Normandy beaches are 110 miles from England

Arromanches

The first ever prefab harbor was created by the British in Arromanches.  Seventeen old ships that had steamed across the English Channel were subsequently sunk to form the first shelter.  Then 115 football-field-sized cement blocks, called 'Mulberries', were towed across the channel and sunk to create a four-mile-long breakwater.  Seven floating steel 'pierheads' were linked to shore by four mile-long floating roads made of concrete pontoons.  Within six days, 54,000 vehicles, 326,000 troops, and 110,000 tons of goods had been delivered using this harbor.  The Allies had their foothold in France.

Each invasion beach is miles long

From Arromanches we went to the Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery, which was a major part of the Atlantic Wall, the extensive coastal defense system built by the Germans between 1942 and 1944.  There are four blockhouses each housing a 150mm piece of artillery and a firing headquarters.

After lunch we went to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.  Definitely did not have enough time here but that's one of the downsides when you are on a group tour.  The WWII Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is on a bluff just above Omaha Beach.  Nearly 10,000 white-marble crosses and Stars of David make up the cemetery.  France has given the United States permanent free use of the 172-acre site.

22-foot statue symbolizing the spirit of America's youth

The Garden of the Missing honors the 1,557 missing in action.

 A pathway leading down from the cemetery takes you to a section of Omaha Beach.

4,000 American soldiers were killed or seriously injured on Omaha Beach

It was overcast, windy and rainy almost the whole time we were in Normandy.  It felt right though and added authenticity to the visit.  The weather was very similar in 1944.

Our first full day also included a stop to see the Bayeux Tapestry, a piece of history.  It's wool embroidered onto linen cloth and is essentially a 70-yard cartoon that tells the story of William the Conqueror's rise from Duke of Normandy to king of England.  It is almost 1,000 years old!

The second day started with a stop at Point du Hoc Ranger Monument.  225 U.S. Army Rangers attempted a castle-style assault of the German-occupied cliffs by using grappling hooks and ladders.  After two days of fighting only 90 servicemen survived.  German bunkers and bomb craters remain as they were found. 

Tom wearing a Ranger ball cap that was a gift for Phil - a current day Ranger

The craters and bunkers are untouched - watch your step!

Behind us is the Ranger Monument and the English Channel

From here we made a stop at Utah Beach.

Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, 4th ID lieutenant commander, led his men onto Utah Beach

We collected sand at all three beaches.

Less than 50 Americans lost their lives on Utah Beach

As part of every D-Day anniversary there is a planned parachute drop.  We waited for hours to see if ours would become a reality.  There were several hopeful moments where the rain would let up, the wind would lessen, green smoke would signal "GO" and we'd hear airplanes overhead.  But just as quickly, we'd see them scrambling to pop red smoke because the conditions had changed.  In the end Mother Nature won and there was no parachute drop for the 67th anniversary.

Green smoke - a hopeful sign

Soaking wet but still have smiles on our faces

Despite the weather everyone stuck it out

Once the drop was officially canceled (two and a half hours later) we went into Saint-Mere-Eglise.  And wouldn't you know that about 30 minutes later the weather cleared up!

The church has a paratrooper memorial.

Special stain glass commissioned for the church

See the paratroopers with Mary and the Baby Jesus

Our last stop on day two was the German Military Cemetery where 21,000 Germans are buried.  I'm really glad they included this in the itinerary.  It is a very somber place.  The grave markers are flat to the ground and the Germans are buried two to a marker.  There are clusters of black crosses throughout the cemetery.

Two unidentified Germans are buried here.

One of the great parts of being in Normandy over the anniversary was all the reenactors and vintage vehicles.  Made you feel like you'd gone back in time.  So much fun!  Here are some photos.

What a trip!

I have never seen so many U.S. flags in one area (especially in France!) as I saw during our visit to Normandy.  The locals recognize and honor the bravery and sacrifice of the thousands of men from all walks of life who were a part of history and stopped the rampages of a sick, savage man.

Before the D-Day invasion began, General Eisenhower said to the Allies, "You are about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you...I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle."

Thank God for those incredible, brave men.  I'm very proud of the fact that both of my grandfathers fought in World War II.  One in the Pacific and one in Europe.  

A poppy from the Normandy fields - I will always treasure the memories of this trip.