Normandy
We began our day along the northern coast of France in the port town of Cherbourg. After disembarking the Endeavour for our daylong bus trip along the D-Day invasion beaches in Normandy. Our first stop would be at the town of Ste. Mere l’Eglise, where the Unites States paratroopers landed to secure the western towns of Normandy. Unfortunately the numerous misdrops of the soldiers left many stranded in swampy areas while others like John Steele dropped right in the middle of the town. Private Steele was stuck on the church of the town for the entire night until reinforcements came to rescue him.
We also stopped at Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers climbed a steep cliff in order to secure German gun emplacements only to discover that the guns were not in the bunkers they fought so hard to take from the beach.
Perhaps the most moving of the stops we made today was at the American Cemetery in Colleville Sur Mer. The French government gave this land to the United States in perpetuity for the location of the resting places for the many who gave their lives to free France and the rest of Europe from the German army. The over 9000 gleaming white headstones are an impressive sight as we walked along the manicured lawns and tree rows. The cemetery was built on a bluff right above part of Omaha beach, which was the bloodiest of the landing areas for the Americans.
After lunch we continued east towards the British and Canadian sectors known as Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. The museum complex at Arromanches had an impressive display of the construction of the artificial breakwater that was necessary to move men and equipment on shore just a few days after the initial invasion.
From there we had a quick stop at the Pegasus Bridge on our way to the Endeavour which had left Cherbourg to meet us in Ouistreham. We enjoyed a great Filipino buffet while thinking about the sacrifice of the Allies some 60 years ago.
We began our day along the northern coast of France in the port town of Cherbourg. After disembarking the Endeavour for our daylong bus trip along the D-Day invasion beaches in Normandy. Our first stop would be at the town of Ste. Mere l’Eglise, where the Unites States paratroopers landed to secure the western towns of Normandy. Unfortunately the numerous misdrops of the soldiers left many stranded in swampy areas while others like John Steele dropped right in the middle of the town. Private Steele was stuck on the church of the town for the entire night until reinforcements came to rescue him.
We also stopped at Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers climbed a steep cliff in order to secure German gun emplacements only to discover that the guns were not in the bunkers they fought so hard to take from the beach.
Perhaps the most moving of the stops we made today was at the American Cemetery in Colleville Sur Mer. The French government gave this land to the United States in perpetuity for the location of the resting places for the many who gave their lives to free France and the rest of Europe from the German army. The over 9000 gleaming white headstones are an impressive sight as we walked along the manicured lawns and tree rows. The cemetery was built on a bluff right above part of Omaha beach, which was the bloodiest of the landing areas for the Americans.
After lunch we continued east towards the British and Canadian sectors known as Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. The museum complex at Arromanches had an impressive display of the construction of the artificial breakwater that was necessary to move men and equipment on shore just a few days after the initial invasion.
From there we had a quick stop at the Pegasus Bridge on our way to the Endeavour which had left Cherbourg to meet us in Ouistreham. We enjoyed a great Filipino buffet while thinking about the sacrifice of the Allies some 60 years ago.
