Normandy Beach Contemplation

We went to the beaches of Normandy, France to understand D-Day WW II History better. It was insightful and meaningful.

The same beach at low tide and high time with a concrete "rock."

We understood so much better seeing the long beaches with low tide... the rough land and high cliffs... the marshy land and hiding places for German snipers...

History says those staying on the beach were easy marks.

Bob walked in their steps and contemplat-ed.

Normandy: American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer

On a patch of land overlooking the D-Day beaches sits the American Cemetery where 90,000 American Soldiers from WWII are buried. It is impossible to remain unmoved at the sight.








http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/no.php
The cemetery is near the small town of Colleville-sur-mer.

We stayed at a B&B farm house down the road from the American Cemetary.



The best history lesson for us was meeting the elderly parents who own the farm. Since I speak French, I asked them about their recollection of D-Day. The wife had been 9 years old at the time. She had 2 words. "Loud," and "fear." They lived in a 3 room house near the beach then.

The husband was 6 years old at the time and lived further away by Utah Beach. He remembers sleeping with an American soldier the first night.

They both told of their joy getting chewing gum and candy after strict sugar rations from the Germans. He said some of the soldiers made slingshots and shot candy to the kids. They gave comic books out. They laughed and won their way into their hearts.

I have often felt that the French look at Americans with a bit of disdain... except for my time in Normandy. In Normandy to this day, they think our nation has heroes.

Normandy: St Mere Eglise and Arromanches

In St. Mere Eglise, American Parachutists went in the day before D-Day to cut off German communication lines. One man's parachute got caught on a church steeple. After getting shot in the foot he played dead and survived. He became a sort of town hero and a mannequin now rests on the steeple to remember him and his fellow paratroopers. As we visited the museum there, we were reminded of the many who gave their lives for freedom.

In Arromanches, Winston Churchill was able to institute the first artificial harbor ever to ship supplies in for the war effort. It was established here on the French coast in this bay town. Some of the barriers brought in can still be seen.

Normandy Beaches: Family Photos

It seems an important thing to pass on to our children about great moments in our history when men gave their lives for something bigger than themselves. We were pleased to bring our son to this place.

Picnic at Omaha Beach.

Our son Bob explored an underground German bunker above. Bob on Utah beach below.

Mont-Saint-Michel : Monastery

The Monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel was built in the 800s and added to throughout the years. For years Monks, Nuns and Pilgrims wandered through the halls and today it is normally overun with tourists. Going at opening time on a February weekday we found ourselves to be alone most of the time (though a Japanese tour bus was at our heels at the beginning). A rarity indeed.

The Cloister Gardens

These pillars really are about too wide to spread your arms around.

http://www.lemontsaintmichel.info/Monastere.aspx

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10551a.htm