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| US Paratrooper and Pilot in D-Day Museum |
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| German big gun at Gold Beach |
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| Memorial at American Cemetary |
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| Grave I chose to honor with a rose |
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| Monument in the sand at Omaha Beach |
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| Light Show on Cathedral in Rouen |
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| Light Show on Cathedral in Rouen |
Today was the somber day of the trip, our visit to the beaches of Normandy and the American cemetery. Our first stop was the D-Day museum in Arronmanches above Gold Beach. Here the British successfully built a working harbor in 12 days that provided one of the key supply lines to support the retaking of France and Europe, a major engineering feat. The picture shows the uniform and equipment of the American paratroopers. Many died landing in water (off course) unable to cut themselves free from their parachutes while being weighted down with 80+ pounds of equipment.
We had a traditional French lunch at a local restaurant (not the best but the wine helped make up for it). We then went to see the German bunkers above Gold Beach. There were several that showed the damage of being successfully shelled, but others like the one in the picture remain fully intact including the gun even today. They had six feet of reinforced concrete on all sides, and because they were camouflaged they were hard to hit or successfully destroy.
Our next stop was at the American Cemetery. We were each given a rose to place on a grave of our choice. I chose 1 Lt Lyle McGlocklin who enlisted in Idaho. Because his death was before D-Day it can be assumed that he was on a plane that was shot down over France doing bombing runs on the Germans. We all gathered at the memorial for a special service. It began by the singing of the national anthem, followed by the playing of taps, and the reading of a poem that honored the fallen. All the veterans in the group (about 25) then gathered for a picture and to be recognized. It is hard to not tear up knowing that there are more than 10,000 American veterans represented here either buried or listed on the wall of the missing, about 40% of those who died in France during the war to defeat a common enemy. Their average age was 24. These men all willingly gave up their lives so that we might enjoy the freedom we do today (something it seems we simply take for granted).
Our last stop of the tour was a visit to Omaha Beach where there were several monuments to the Americans who fought there. There are over 400 monuments to Americans who fought in France. The picture shows the monument erected in the sand. It is clear that the French continue to appreciate what the British, Canadians and Americans did during the war, along with units from seven other countries.
Tonight we walked up to the cathedral in Rouen where they have a light and sound show projected on the front of the cathedral. If you YouTube Rouen Cathedral light show you can see videos of the entire 20 minute show. Parts of it highlight the architecture, some dramatically modify and color it, and other are images and scenes projected on it. It is something you have to see in person to fully appreciate.
A very long day today. We are sailing back toward Paris tomorrow morning so we get to sleep in. We are praying that Eclipsageddon does not happen, and that Newberg and Dundee remain basically unchanged for our return.
