D-Day!

The day we'd been anticipating since signing up for this cruise was finally here.  We were going to the Normandy Beaches!  We'd been cautioned to be ready to leave by 8am, and no one was late.  This would be our  'Longest Day'!  One of the guests on board is a meteorologist who gives me daily weather reports at no charge.  He assured me that the sun would come out -- and he was correct, at least by noon.

All our local guides have been outstanding, and Ann Marie was no exception.  During our drive she gave us a wonderful explanation of what had led up to WWII, which actually was a result of WWI events.  I think we all had a better understanding of how complicated Europe's political situation was in 1914 and why WWII began 21 years later.

Our focus today was to be in the Omaha Beach area, and our first stop was at the American

Cemetery.  I have very special memories of this place.  In 1998 I took a group to Normandy on a day tour from Paris.  In our group was a WWII veteran of the Normandy landing.  He is since deceased.  We happened to arrive at the cemetery at dusk and as we walked among the crosses and stars of David, the American flag was lowered and taps began to play.  I can still see the  tears streaming down his face.

Several years later, while staying in the home of an acquaintance in a small village nearby, we had dinner with the Superintendent of the Cemetery.  Again, we just happened to arrive the next day at the Cemetery and were met by this gentlemen.  He invited us to participate in the flag lowering ceremony.  This time I was the one crying as the flag was slowly lowered.

Although most Americans have seen pictures of the cemetery, no photo can portray the beauty of this sacred place.  More than 9000 white crosses and stars of David are laid out in perfect symmetry on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach.  Exact records are kept enabling family and friends to locate their loved ones.  Those who could not be identified have the inscription "Known only to God."  The Visitor Center is another 'must visit" with it's excellent photos and videos of the actual landings.

Next stop was Omaha Beach.  How peaceful and filled-with-children-playing was the beach today -- a far cry from the videos of the carnage of D-Day we'd just seen.

The Les Braves sculpture stands at water's edge to commemorate those brave soldiers who died 6 June 1944, and symbolizes
              Hope - Freedom - Fraternity.

The last stop on today's itinerary was the D-Day Museum at Arromanches.  The Allies knew they would need a port to keep the forces adequately supplied, but the disaster of the Dieppe raid in 1942 proved the German defenses were to strong for the Allies to capture an established port.  They decided, instead, to build two prefabricated harbors from sections they would tow across the Channel.  A storm destroyed Mulberry A, the first harbor, at Omaha Beach, but Mulberry B was successfully put into operation at Arromanches.  This port played a vital role in the successful advance of Allied troops In Normandy.

D-Day at the Normandy Beaches had, indeed, been our 'Longest Day," but a very special day for all of us.  Tonight we will cruise southeast toward Paris,our final destination.

More tomorrow from Rouen.
Linda