Normandy, France

​Normandy 

   Our second day in France provided more opportunities for sightseeing. Debby had booked an excursion with a private guide to go to Normandy. We were excited to go see it once again. It’s one of those places that offers emotional highs when standing on the sandy beaches or walking among the pristine graveyard. This American cemetery with exquisite placing of white crosses, each in a straight line with the other nearby in any direction, is chilling. Each cross bears the name of a fallen hero. Standing in front of a white cross and reading the name of a fallen soldier from your own hometown is a humbling experience.

   We spent the day visiting the old church where some of our paratroopers got caught up on the church spires, hanging by their chutes and then being shot by German soldiers.  We visited Utah and Omaha beaches and remembered a time when this sand ran red with the blood of our fallen. 

   The graveyard memorial at the American cemetery is most inspiring. The 9,387 manicured graves are all marked with a beautiful white cross inscribed with the soldier’s name, rank, outfit, home state and date. The grounds are beautiful and well kept by the French. The people around Normandy are most grateful for the sacrifices made for them.

   We arrived at the cemetery late afternoon, just in time to witness the flag ceremony. It was a very moving experience and most awesome to realize this was done every day.  

   The monuments that were set up near the beaches of landing zones Still preserve the German bunkers and feels of bomb craters so no one will ever forget.

   Our guide was very knowledgeable of the events of World War II and recounted the events of the Allie’s storming German bunkers along the Normandy coast. We stood on the flat beaches and walked the high cliffs where the Nazi’s hammered our landing crafts with heavy artillery and rained down machine gun fire upon the Allies trying to scale the cliffs. This is a place that every Frenchman and American should see. 

   Our lunch stop in a small coastal Café had a nice selection of French cuisine, pasta and seafood.

   Our guide returned us to the train station so we could catch the last train back to Paris. I think we ate dinner and a small sidewalk café near our hotel. It, too, had excellent food.  We talked about today’s adventures and how touching it was to see where thousands of lives were given on behalf of freedom. I hope we never forget the cost of freedom and never take it for granted.

Mike