Normandy Part II

Our afternoon in Normandy included Pointe du Hoc where the Rangers scaled 100-foot cliffs to dismantle German guns that were aimed at Omaha Beach.  There is a monument in the shape of a Ranger knife at the top.  The Rangers climbed up the cliffs in a matter of minutes.
The bomb craters still remain and the kids had fun running up and down them.

Memorial to the Rangers

Kate and Breanne in a Bomb Crater

Kelly and Sande on the Cliff

Our next stop of the day was the most moving.  The American Cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer is truly hallowed ground.  It is American soil in France and there is a strong spirit there among all the crosses and stars of David.

Sande

Dad Walking Through the Cemetery

Morgan, Kate and Bree

Dad

Kelly and Jenny

Mary Claire and Audrey

The American Cemetery is right above Omaha Beach, which was the bloodiest beach on D-Day.  We contemplated the sacrifice of those soldiers--many of whom died so young.  One of the inscriptions in the chapel was beautiful.  And the statue of The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves is inspiring.

Inscription in Chapel

We ended the day at Arromanches.  This is where the Allies constructed an artificial harbor with mulberries towed in from England.

Mulberries in the Distance

The harbor was used for 10 months after D-Day to bring in 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles and four million tons of supplies.  It was hard to imagine all that going on in an area now so peaceful.

Morgan, Breanne, Kate near the Mulberries

Kate with Breanne, Ashlie, Rebecca and Brooke on the Beach at Arromanches

It was a great trip to the Normandy Beaches and everyone felt they had learned a lot and felt the sacrifice of those who have gone before us to keep us free.  The French people in this area were all so friendly and seemed grateful for what the Americans, Canadians, British and others did to fight for their freedom.  We were told by the locals that it is primarily the Americans who continue to return to visit Normandy and we hope to return again soon.