Europe 2014- Part 2 : Normandie

 Omaha Beach

Calm, Peaceful, Beautiful, and Humbling and Awe Inspiring

After we said goodbye to the family, we headed out on some new European adventures. We like to do something different each time we visit that we haven't done before. Something that has always been on the top of our list, was to take the boys to the Normandy Beaches.  The stars aligned for us this trip, as we were flying out of the Netherlands and were already up in the North of France. Not only was it going to to be right on our way, but it also happened to be the 70th Anniversary this year of the D-Day Landings.  It was perfect planning to do it on this trip!

Aside from both being history lovers, visiting these beaches was especially important to our family for the emotions we felt from both sides. Being Americans, we were of course humbled and amazed by these courageous heroes who gave their lives along with all of the other brave Allied soldiers fighting for what was right.  On the other end,  Noah's family being French; it was particularly emotional. Noah's grandparents were on the receiving end of this great gift of liberation.  Meme was living in Paris when it was liberated, and Pepe had made his way south to Toulouse (which had not yet been occupied) by walking about 140 miles from his home village. The story we have been told is that he walked along the road, and would hop into a ditch every time a car drove by incase it was the Nazi's trying to force him into the army or go to a camp.  How grateful we are in our little family, that  France was liberated, and Pepe was able to move to Paris for University after that. He then met and fell in love with Meme one magical night while out dancing with his friends. She told me once how she only said yes when he asked her to dance because he looked like Clark Gable! Her eyes lit up when she would tell that story, and she was so cute. We sure do miss you Meme! But I digress...

In any case, had the liberators not come that fateful June Day to change the tide of the War, it is most assured that they would have never met! 

Porter and I in front of the beautiful memorial sculpture

"Les Braves"

 Allied Flags

 D-Day was truly a group effort, 

and an undertaking that was beyond the scale of anything else ever seen

Original monument erected at Omaha Beach

Porter being tough next to a "Long Tom"

Omaha Beach Musee  Memorial de Omaha

Landing Craft

Landing craft door

Invasion plan scale model

Exploring the fascinating museum...

The boys really enjoyed seeing "Uncle Topolino"

It's hard to imaging how much "war debris" was left around for the locals to clean up. Thankfully many of them saved so many artifacts to make all of the impressive museums that dot the Normandie Beaches. I think it was incredibly powerful for my family, and many others I'm sure to see these things first hand. What we didn't realize before we arrived, was just how many museums there are. There were probably dozens of small ones dedicated to one small facet of the invasion along with all of the big "main" tourist ones. I can easily see how one could spend weeks in Normandie visiting everything! 

Porter, Milo and Daddy by a 1944 Sherman Tank used in the invasion

View of the Beach from the main road into town where they came ashore

Now, in our itinerary we only had two days for Normandie, so we spent the first dedicated nearly entirely to Omaha Beach, and drove along the coastline to see the others that evening. The plan was for the next day to be set aside for the American Cemetery and brief stops at the other beaches. As we drove along the Coastline the first night, the weather was beautiful that day and we had incredible views. Most especially of Arromanches, (Gold Beach) where there still remains one of the most notable ruins of D-Day with the "Mulberry Harbor" still visible. It was an incredible sight. We knew we were coming back the next day, so since the kids were worn out we just kept driving instead of stopping for pictures. This was our big mistake. Mother Nature had other plans the next day, and a THICK fog covered the whole coastline. You could literally not see the beaches at all, and we were at least happy that we had seen them the night before even if we didn't have any good pictures. 

The most incredible part of visiting Normandie, however, was still incredible even with the fog.  As we drove back towards Omaha Beach, (from our hotel that was steps away from Juno Beach) we realized the way it must have felt for all of those soldiers. Much of their cover was from smoke that day, but I can imagine that the thick fog would have been extremely beneficial.  As we visited the American Cemetery, it gave a whole different feeling of calm and reverence to it. It was almost a tangible reminder of the invisible weight that hangs in the air in Normandie.  

The American Cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach on a clear day, but the day we went you could barely see a few meters in front of you.  

Noah and Porter

(The normal view of Omaha Beach lies behind them)

The boys and I in front of another section of heroes. The scope of this Cemetery was massive as well. Smaller than Arlington of course, but still huge. It seemed to go on and on.

The Cemetery and Memorial are so beautiful, and have and definite French flair. I think that every garden, everywhere should have awesome sculptured trees like these. The reflecting pool was also stunning, and rightly so. These soldiers deserve the best!

The Memorial Sculpture is titled

The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves

Trying out the Panoramic function on the camera-

We had been very impressed with the Omaha Beach Museum, but the Visitor's Center/ Museum at the American Cemetery blew our socks off. It was so well done, powerful, thought-provoking and emotional. It is a MUST if you ever visit the area. 

and last, but not least- 

They had detailed displays and maps detailing the invasions and movements of the soldiers in both the European and Pacific theaters. 

In our attempt to teach Porter about all of the history and things he is seeing as we travel the world; and in an effort to help him connect his own life to the greater world and the impact of the choices humans make- here is Noah giving Porter a lesson about how Japan was involved in WWII and how that connects to his life today. Pretty incredible the things this kid has seen...

I hope he is remembering even a little of it!

Truly, it is pretty hard to put into words what the experience of visiting Normandie is like. It was definitely one of the most powerful experiences both Noah and I have ever had.  It is a place like no other on Earth. The entire region truly is sacred ground, and a place where the history of the World was changed.  They undoubtedly were the Greatest Generation. We will Never forget. 

Seventy Years.