The Beaches of Normandy

National Guard Memorial and Omaha
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Finally we made it to Normandy - or the Landing as the Chef called it. I am not ashamed to admit that this one hit home. (And this is before I saw "Saving Private Ryan")

We began at Omaha beach. What a beautiful location. However; looking at the beach and at the surrounding cliffs - the only thoughts going through my head were "There is no way that any of the men facing this shore thought they would get out alive. They had to know that they were going to their deaths. What a sacrifice for home and family.The Germans definately had the stronger position. We won through shear blood." Those thoughts kept repeating itself in my brain. We saw the National Guard Memorial that stands atop a German cannon. From atop the wall of the beach, the scene was very different. In the wind and the sun, children laughed and danced in the water with their dogs. There was a Golden Retriever having a fabulous time. (She made me miss Morgan) We found rocks and the students played in the water. This is what the blood was spilled for - the right for children to laugh without fear.

What a peaceful resting place for those who died so horrifically

Omaha and the gulls
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Then we headed to the cemetary. We followed the French signs. I love context clues. :-)

Harry has never been to the cemetary and the beaches before today. I was worried about what his strong German heritage would say - he loved it. Especially because he found people who spoke German.

OK - I am stalling. This one touched me very deeply.

It began with the museum with the video, audio and pictures. The display of flags was also well done.  This portion covered the facts about the operation as well as personal details of people involved. Then you walked through a tunnel where the names of the fallen soldiers were being announced through the speakers. Then the room of those who sacrificed including the Niland brothers. By now, I have tears in my eyes. As you leave this portion of the museum, you walk a beautiful path to the cemetary. The ocean is on one side and wooded areas on the other. This leads you to the memorial. It is surrounded by a white stone wall with the dead soldiers names  whose bodies could not be identified  etched into the stone. This led to the statue which dropped you into the cemetary. It is definately a drop. You walk to the top of the stairs and look out over the vast expanse of green lawn and over 9000 graves with either white crosses or Star of Davids. It goes on forever.

On top of the canon and beside the memorial
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In the middle is a stone and marble building. It is for those who wish to pray.

Standing back and looking over the miles of graves, each one with a name and date engraved upon it  - it is brought home to each individual the cost these men gave for their country. I can only hope that our youth have the same dedication and pride and belief in our country as these men died for.

What a peaceful resting place for those who died so horrifically.

For some, this one was too much and too close to home.  It is easy to forget in todays age of media - what a war really means to an individual versus to the TV ratings.

In the rocks
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Frau