France 2025 - Day 8 - Normandy Landings

Wednesday

Today was a day of reflection on the horrors of occupied Europe and the bravery and sacrifice of the Allied Forces that landed on the Normandy beaches on 06/06/1944. 81 years have passed but these men are celebrated here in almost every street. There are many flags and memorials lovingly tended even one in our hotel grounds. 

Our first stop was at The American Cemetery which has occupied it's current site since 1956 ( before this time the men were buried in temporary cemeteries close to where they fell). When the permanent site was being built the families of the fallen were given the choice of burial here in France or repariation to USA.



There are almost 10,000 graves here and a memorial wall to those who are missing in action.


The site is beautiful and mostly serene apart from the many visitors paying their respects. I have to say I shed a tear listening to the story of one man who was wounded by shrapnel on Omaha Beach aged 19, he was evacuated to England and required 23 surgeries to his injuries. Afterwards he returned to New York and became a doctor partly to repay the graditude for his treatment.

Then a short drive to Omaha beach itself, a beautiful 6 mile stretch of golden sand today, hard to imagine the carnage on that day.


Our last stop of the morning was Ponte Du Hoc where US Rangers scaled the cliffs on ropes to try and disable the heavy guns that were aiming at the beaches below, again huge bravery and many men were lost.


A very American take on the D Day landings today.

We needed time to decompress so spent the afternoon in the Chateaux garden for some relaxation.


Later we headed back out to Port en Bessin, a couple of the fishing boats were heading out through the sea lock tonight.


The D Day Memorials here are for the British 47 Royal Marine Commandos whose job it was to secure the port so that a fuel line could be established from England to France. Initially this was done successfully with hoses from tankers moored out at sea to the shore but the longer term PLUTO (Pertroleum Lines Under The Ocean) was established here.


How lucky we are to walk around in freedom on a beautiful day in June 2025.




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