D Day

Today is the day we are doing our visits to the D-Day landing sights - they are not far from where we are.

I was expecting it to be pretty moving and it was.  First stop was Pointe du Hoc - I won't detail the history lesson here, because, as I said yesterday, being there is the best way to appreciate it, but the place was filled with bomb craters, and when you think about what they represent, it is very sobering.  This was the place where American Rangers scaled the 60 ft cliffs under fire - a story I had not heard before.

We moved on to Omaha Beach where the American landings occurred. We stumbled upon a museum which featured a live film of the events, including a couple of shots of men being shot down, and lots of bodies on the beach but especially the very staunch men who fought on in spite of everything.

Next stop was the American Cemetery where 9387 soldiers killed in the landings are buried.  There is a visitor centre there where personal stories are told - so vivid and so moving.  Full-on security here including X-rays of bags and metal detectors to walk through, but such a peaceful place.

We also went to Arromanche where the British landed.  A bit less to see other than the remains of the Mulberry (temporary harbour/wharf constructed following D-Day) but it does become very real when you stand on the site of such momentous events in history.

A big day in more ways than one.