Normandy - Omaha Beach

One of the major things Kody wanted to do while he was still here was go to Normandy. You think two weeks sounds like such a long time that you'll be able to fit everything in, but it went by so quickly! Luckily, we were able to do this before he left.
We took the train from Paris to Caen where we were able to rent a car. The cars here are small and unless you pay for a BMW, they're all standards. We got a brand new little car (only 4 km on the odometer), and even though all three of us learned at some point, Mom was the only one comfortable driving. Kody was the navigator for our 40 minute trip to Omaha Beach.




At least it had four doors...




There were five beaches that were stormed by Allied forces across the English Channel on June 6, 1944 - Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword. We chose to go to Omaha Beach so we could visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. It was here that 43,250 American soldiers stormed the most heavily defended beach, and it is here that most of the 2-4,000 estimated casualties of D-Day occurred. There are 9,387 military dead buried in this cemetery that covers 173 acres.
First up was the visitors' center which was a very well done museum.












There were tons of personal stories from survivors and dead alike, personal effects and supplies that were used as well as video footage of D-Day and the days leading up to it. It was a humbling experience. There was story after story of courage, sacrifice, and competence that led to the eventual liberation of France and The Nazi's surrender less than a year later.
After making it through the visitor's center, we headed out in the rain to see the cemetery, the memorials, and the actual beach.








Map of invasions on Normandy beaches.




Very reminiscent of Arlington cemetery, but more unreal because they all died within a few days of one another.




One of the personal stories was of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (President Roosevelt's son). He perished From a heart attack a few weeks after leading his troops inland and was buried here. His brother, Quentin, had died in 1918 fighting in WWI. His body was exhumed and laid to rest next to his brother.




Their graves - Theodore's is gold because he received the Medal of Honor.












The first short video we watched upon entering recognized one of the first to die on D-Day. His name was Gene Sellers - he gave up a football scholarship at the University of Arkansas to go to war. He was a paratrooper who unfortunately missed his drop zone, landed in an apple orchard occupied by Germans, and was shot and killed.




Eventually, we walked down to the beach. It's hard to believe it was a bloody war zone less than 70 years ago.




Looking back up at the cemetery.




Kody and I are closest to the water, picking out seashells and rocks. And you can see a sail boat in the distance. There were five out this day, and we think they were racing.




Last up was Les Braves monument in the middle of Omaha beach for the Americans who liberated France. It represents three things from left to right- the Wings of Hope, the Rise of Freedom, and the Wings of Fraternity.




I'm so glad we could make this trip to Normandy. It was much more somber than all of our other adventures, but still so inspiring. Another reminder that freedom is NOT free and being an American really is a privilege.
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Location:Rue des Irlandais,Paris,France