Normandy, the D Day Landing...

June 20, 2012

Today was a somber day as we went to Normandy to see first-hand where the D day landing occurred.  We focused our efforts in two areas.  First was the town of Arromanches, where the Bristish forces came ashore.  We watched a 20 minute film here on the price of freedom.  It was in 360 degrees and intermixed film from today with actual footage from the fighting.  This launched quite a few discussions with the kids afterwards.  What a great opportunity for learning.

This is the view from just outside the theater of the Port Winston artificial harbor.  The allies made a makeshift harbor.  You can see the giant cement blocks the size of football fields that were brought from England and linked together to form a breakwater.

Jason studying a map of part the harbor…

It was a great place to have lunch and debate the pros and cons of war…

We took a nice little walk down into town…

And walked down the beach where the troops landed…

Next stop was the American Cemetary at Omaha Beach, one of the two beaches where the American forces landed.  This was taken at the American Cemetery Visitor’s Center.  It shows a layout of all of the beaches involved in the D Day assault.

The French gave us this beautiful piece of land for a cemetery for the over 9500 U.S. soldiers that were killed in Normandy.

This is at the Memorial…

Here is a view of Omaha Beach.

The cemetery is up on the bluff overlooking the beach…

Jason was very contemplative…

Unidentified remains are marked with the following cross which says, “Here rests in Honored Glory, a Comrade in Arms, known but to God”.

The Jewish soldiers are buried with a Star of David for their marker…

We walked through the cemetery for quite some time and noticed that there were soldiers from every state, even Montana…

Then we walked down to the beach…

The allied forces landed on June 6^th, 1944.   It is June 20^th, and the kids tested the water.  It is very cold.  We can’t imagine what those men must have gone through.

It was a very sobering day.  I think it was good for all of us as we count our blessings.  The kids didn’t seem to argue or bicker today.  I think it really made us all realize how blessed we are and how sometimes we get upset over the smallest things when in actuality, they are nothing compared to what so many who have gone before us have endured.  What a great lesson.  I am thankful for the opportunity to have been here today.

After leaving Normandy, we had a three hour drive to a bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere.  We didn’t arrive until 7:30 p.m. and there was no town nearby.  We were very tired and didn’t feel like a half an hour drive for dinner, so they let us borrow their microwave and we split a couple of top ramen like soup packets, and had a bit of granola.  In reality, it was a meal fit for a king compared to the rations the soldiers were given.

The owner of the Bed and Breakfast also owned the holiday trailer park next door that had about 80 little trailers on it.  The area had a common pool and trampoline, so the kids ended their day with a nice swim.  Always great to get some exercise after hours in the car.

Til' later,

~Mary