Daily Summary Today was a moving day of rememberence as we visited the sights of the D-Day battles and cemeteries. As we drove through the countryside, it was amazing to see all the American flags flown side-by-side along with French flags. America is still honored and remembered for its heroism during the war in this part of the country.
We boarded the bus and began the day with our local guide, Sylvain giving us an introduction as we drove. Our first stop was the German Cemetery. That was followed by a stop at Ste Mère l'Eglise and its medieval church.
Utah Beach and the well done Landing Museum were next, with lunch conveniently provided at the museum afterwards.
Walks around Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach rounded out our overview of the beach battle sites before we headed to the solemn US Cemetry.
We ended our day returning to Arromaches, having dinner and the rest of the evening on our own.
Miles Walked: 4.38 Steps Walked: 10,466
La Cambe German Cemetery
La Cambe is one of six German Cemeteries in the Normandy region commemorating fallen German military personnel. In the center, is a stone statue of a cross between male and female figures, symbolizing German parents who have lost their sons. Throughout the cemetery are groups of five crosses, marking the graves of over 21,000 German soilders.
Ste Mère l'Eglise
Stainte-Mère-Eglise was the American Paratrooper's center of action, and was the first village to be liberated by the Americans. Having seen the movie, "The Longest Day", our family was very interested in seeing this town. Many paratroopers landed off target, one was even caught on the church steeple. A manequin hangs in rememberance. Inside the church are two modern stanined glass windows -- Mary and Jesus surrounded by paratroopers and St. Michael, the patron saint of paratroopers.
Utah Beach Landing Museum Musee du Debarquement
At the Utah Beach site, we first walked out to the sandy beach and saw where 20,000 American troops had landed and first broke through Hitler's Atlantic Wall. We sadly realised Alex and Nick were the ages of many of those young men who fought in the war. The museum, built around a German bunker, is a well done display of the well coordinated effort of D-Day. A highlight is some of the invasion equipment, including the B-26 bomber pictured above.
Pointe Du Hoc
Using grappling hooks and borrowed ladders, 205 Army Rangers scaled the steep cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to overtake the German's most heavily fortified position. Because it was strategically necessary to take this cliff from the Germans, Pointe du Hoc was the most bombarded site of D-Day targets -- 1,500 tons of bombs were dropped here. We explored the many bomb craters and bunkers left behind, and saw where the Rangers had scaled the cliffs. A memorial in the shape of a Ranger's dagger sits on top of the cliffs.
Omaha Beach
One of the most intense battles of D-Day was at Omaha Beach, nicknamed "Bloody Omaha", having the highest casualty rates in all of Normandy. Amazingly, 34,000 Americans landed here on D-Day. French and American flags fly together in remembrance.
US Cemetery
Around 25,000 Americans died in the battle for Normandy, and many of them are buried in the American Cemetery. Their graves are marked with rows of white crosses or stars of David. Though we didn't have time to visit the visitor center, we did have time to wander through the well-kept cemetery. We were there at the end of the day, and watched as the flag was lowered and, as if on cue, the rain began.
We were treated to a beautiful rainbow on our drive back to the hotel.
Arromanches
We returned to our hotel in Arromanches, which also overlooks an important D-Day beach. The artifical habor, Port Winston (named after Winston Churchill), which was quickly built during the war with 17 old ships, 115 cement blocks (Phoenixes), and concrete pontoons, still has portions remaining. As the sun went down that evening, we explored some of what is left of Port Winston.