(post by John, pictures by Jen)
We returned to Europe in mid-August, the kids started school on Thursday, August 23rd. Sounds like a great time for a weekend trip! We must have missed traveling throughout Europe during our summer in the States because we hit the road August 24-26 for a trip to the Normandy region of France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy. We learned that Normandy was settled by the Vikings from Scandinavia over 1,000 years ago!
The primary purpose of our visit was to visit the site of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings. I had seen the invasion immortalized in the movies The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers. I had also read accounts of the invasion. So to stand on Omaha Beach http://www.omahabeach.org/ knowing what happened here 68+ years ago was quite a surreal experience. Many believe the events of that day served to change the course of world history.
We learned that they will never be able to remove all the metal from the beach. We walked the hills that the Allied soldiers rushed to overtake the Germans. We climbed in the bunkers that were still left on the site. It was quite an amazing experience
We also visited the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. The site feels in some ways very similar to other military cemeteries I've visited (Fort Snelling, Arlington), but the fact that it is located overlooking Omaha beach makes for quite a stirring setting.
The visit provoked many feelings. Pride for being an American for the sacrifice made by our countrymen, righteousness that this war and our victory was in the name of Freedom, and sadness for the deaths of so many men on both sides of the conflict.
A quote is displayed in the memorial museum that I thought accurately captures the American sentiment of WWII. I think this quote is even more poignant in the wake of American participation in conflicts since that have been related to fighting communism or securing oil:
"If ever proof were needed that we fought for a cause and not for conquest, it could be found in these cemeteries. Here was our only conquest, all we asked...was enough soil in which to bury our gallant dead." - General Mark W. Clark
On Sunday, we traveled two hours south to see the abbey at Mont St. Michel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel. The island just off the mainland coast was originally build as a monastery in Roman times, with the existing structure being erected in the 11th and 12th centuries. It was quite a site to see.
Thank you for keeping up with our adventure as we enter our third year in Europe!
Take care,
John
We returned to Europe in mid-August, the kids started school on Thursday, August 23rd. Sounds like a great time for a weekend trip! We must have missed traveling throughout Europe during our summer in the States because we hit the road August 24-26 for a trip to the Normandy region of France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy. We learned that Normandy was settled by the Vikings from Scandinavia over 1,000 years ago!
The primary purpose of our visit was to visit the site of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings. I had seen the invasion immortalized in the movies The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers. I had also read accounts of the invasion. So to stand on Omaha Beach http://www.omahabeach.org/ knowing what happened here 68+ years ago was quite a surreal experience. Many believe the events of that day served to change the course of world history.
 |
| Standing on Omaha Beach |
We learned that they will never be able to remove all the metal from the beach. We walked the hills that the Allied soldiers rushed to overtake the Germans. We climbed in the bunkers that were still left on the site. It was quite an amazing experience
 |
| Matthew in one of the German Bunkers |
 |
| Omaha Beach Memorial |
We also visited the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. The site feels in some ways very similar to other military cemeteries I've visited (Fort Snelling, Arlington), but the fact that it is located overlooking Omaha beach makes for quite a stirring setting.
 |
| Ryan and Matthew in the Cemetery (English Channel in the Background) |
The visit provoked many feelings. Pride for being an American for the sacrifice made by our countrymen, righteousness that this war and our victory was in the name of Freedom, and sadness for the deaths of so many men on both sides of the conflict.
 |
| Omaha Beach Memorial Cemetery |
A quote is displayed in the memorial museum that I thought accurately captures the American sentiment of WWII. I think this quote is even more poignant in the wake of American participation in conflicts since that have been related to fighting communism or securing oil:
"If ever proof were needed that we fought for a cause and not for conquest, it could be found in these cemeteries. Here was our only conquest, all we asked...was enough soil in which to bury our gallant dead." - General Mark W. Clark
On Sunday, we traveled two hours south to see the abbey at Mont St. Michel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel. The island just off the mainland coast was originally build as a monastery in Roman times, with the existing structure being erected in the 11th and 12th centuries. It was quite a site to see.
 |
| Jen & John in front of Mont St. Michel |
Thank you for keeping up with our adventure as we enter our third year in Europe!
Take care,
John
