Lest we forget our history and allow it to be repeated.
Today we spend the entire day visiting the museums, American cemetery, and beaches of Normandy where Allied troops of World War II, landed on June 6, 1944 to either end or succumb to the German takeover of France and Europe.
It is a story of determination, strategy, persistence, planning, competence, communications, engineering, training, courage and sacrifice of soldiers, in the air, on land, and on the water, simultaneous fronts.
Our empathetic emotions are on overload as we trace the steps that led to D-Day and the ultimate 'hell' and blood bath" that took the lives of 3,600+ Americans on Omaha Beach. We are in awe of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to liberate Europe, "ensure" democracy, and to bring what they thought would be the beginning of the end to all wars.
Surely there could be no other meglamaniacs like Hitler....until the present day when it seems we may have one in our own country . We also feel a kindled understanding of how ordinary German citizens "allowed" the atrocities of war and seeming "acceptance" of their leader. They probably had no alternative or courageous representatives to check the unfiltered power of a hell-bent leader. Hmmm?
We feel their anxiety having events spiral out of control....where classes of people are demonized, refugees are separated from their children and held in detention centers, free press is called "fake news" and propaganda becomes the 'real news", allies are turned into opponents, democracy and truth are besieged, and our government of "we the people" being usurped by wealth, greed, and corruption.
We empathize with all of the civilians caught up in the tragedies that lead to divisiveness and distrust of friends and neighbors ultimately leading to conflict and war. And we empathize with soldiers who fight for what they "believe" to be a righteous cause that will ultimately define them through violence and bloodshed as either right or wrong in their beliefs. We are overcome with sadness for then and now, and know that we cannot falter in our persistence of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, or we will forfeit that for which our WWII vets so gallantly fought.
When drawn into World War II in 1941, America and Allied troops could see no immediate end to the war. Churchill understood that the only way to win the war would be to mount a seemingly incredible offensive that would require masterful and strategic collaboration of the allied forces.
Behind Disembarkation Day (D-Day), there was prolonged period of planning and preparation by leaders, military, and the civilian workforce.
A temporary harbor would need to be constructed expediently in enemy held territory to deploy the men, supplies, and armor needed to defeat the Germans who had successfully been storming Europe for five years. The harbor was built beforehand from a model and pieced together in place, first by sinking ships as anchors and building a seawall on their windward side, then constructing peers and ramps to land. That those from top to bottom could keep such a mammoth undertaking of preparation for two years a secret was an amazing accomplishment in an of itself.
It is a story of determination, strategy, persistence, planning, competence, communications, engineering, training, courage and sacrifice of soldiers, in the air, on land, and on the water, simultaneous fronts.
Our empathetic emotions are on overload as we trace the steps that led to D-Day and the ultimate 'hell' and blood bath" that took the lives of 3,600+ Americans on Omaha Beach. We are in awe of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to liberate Europe, "ensure" democracy, and to bring what they thought would be the beginning of the end to all wars.
Surely there could be no other meglamaniacs like Hitler....until the present day when it seems we may have one in our own country . We also feel a kindled understanding of how ordinary German citizens "allowed" the atrocities of war and seeming "acceptance" of their leader. They probably had no alternative or courageous representatives to check the unfiltered power of a hell-bent leader. Hmmm?
We feel their anxiety having events spiral out of control....where classes of people are demonized, refugees are separated from their children and held in detention centers, free press is called "fake news" and propaganda becomes the 'real news", allies are turned into opponents, democracy and truth are besieged, and our government of "we the people" being usurped by wealth, greed, and corruption.
We empathize with all of the civilians caught up in the tragedies that lead to divisiveness and distrust of friends and neighbors ultimately leading to conflict and war. And we empathize with soldiers who fight for what they "believe" to be a righteous cause that will ultimately define them through violence and bloodshed as either right or wrong in their beliefs. We are overcome with sadness for then and now, and know that we cannot falter in our persistence of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, or we will forfeit that for which our WWII vets so gallantly fought.
Behind Disembarkation Day (D-Day), there was prolonged period of planning and preparation by leaders, military, and the civilian workforce.
A temporary harbor would need to be constructed expediently in enemy held territory to deploy the men, supplies, and armor needed to defeat the Germans who had successfully been storming Europe for five years. The harbor was built beforehand from a model and pieced together in place, first by sinking ships as anchors and building a seawall on their windward side, then constructing peers and ramps to land. That those from top to bottom could keep such a mammoth undertaking of preparation for two years a secret was an amazing accomplishment in an of itself.
The initial assault utilized 5000 vessels, 10,000 aircraft and landed 176,500 troops and 20,000 vehicles on the beaches of Normandy in the firs 48 hours! One wonders in today's culture of satellite and drone images, Wikileaks and Internet if anything can stay secret for long or that we would have the collaborative will to work with our allies or they the trust to work with us.
The French are still very grateful for allied troops and their liberation from Germany. American flags along with other allied forces are proudly flown. Museums are filled with people of all ages. Many school groups from France and England visit Normandy to learn their history and to understand why history must not repeat itself.
They are still attached to history through proximity while Americans seem to forget anything not proximate to the here and now.
The sea is whipped up today, it is overcast with periods of rain, not unlike and perhaps even more favorable than the conditions our allied forces faced.
It would all seem unrealistic if the skies were blue and the beaches filled with sun bathers. There are only a few people on the beach today. We hear only the sounds of the sea, sea birds, and the imagined sounds of the past.
Arromanches - Debarquement - Disembarkment Museum
The French are still very grateful for allied troops and their liberation from Germany. American flags along with other allied forces are proudly flown. Museums are filled with people of all ages. Many school groups from France and England visit Normandy to learn their history and to understand why history must not repeat itself.
The sea is whipped up today, it is overcast with periods of rain, not unlike and perhaps even more favorable than the conditions our allied forces faced.
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| Omaha Beach Cliffs |
It would all seem unrealistic if the skies were blue and the beaches filled with sun bathers. There are only a few people on the beach today. We hear only the sounds of the sea, sea birds, and the imagined sounds of the past.
Arromanches - Debarquement - Disembarkment Museum
Coleville - Overlord Museum
Coleville - American Cemetery Museum
Omaha Beach - Omaha D-Day Museum.
We found a geocache on "bloody Omaha Beach" then returned to Nonante and the farmhouse where we are staying. Our host Chantel was preparing dinner for us this evening.
Coleville - American Cemetery Museum
Omaha Beach - Omaha D-Day Museum.
We found a geocache on "bloody Omaha Beach" then returned to Nonante and the farmhouse where we are staying. Our host Chantel was preparing dinner for us this evening.
Dinner was scheduled for 8:00 pm. We arrived about 7:45 and had a few minutes before dinner to be introduced to the farm animals besides the friendly dogs. We met three donkeys, a bunch of chickens, and a horse that is a boarder. Chantel's payment comes from a percent of any prize money the horse wins in local races.
Our supper was wonderful from apperitif to dessert, and included pate and avocado salad, sea scallops and rice in cream sauce, fresh peaches with vanilla ice cream and hand whipped cream.
Our supper was wonderful from apperitif to dessert, and included pate and avocado salad, sea scallops and rice in cream sauce, fresh peaches with vanilla ice cream and hand whipped cream.
Tomorrow we leave for Mont Saint Michel with a stop in Bayeaux to visit the Tapestry Museum that depicts the story of William the Conquerer.
All is Well with the Worrall Travel Rs in Nonante, France
St. Mere Eglise where the paratrooper still hangs on the church steeple also has a wonderful museum. Pointe du Hoc is a moving place to visit. My father landed on Utah Beach on Jun 9. There is a little island, Ile de Tatihou, off the coast near St Vaast le Houge, that is accessible by duck boat. Louis XIV built a fort there . Fun place to visit.
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