DAY TRIP TO NORMANDY & THE D-DAY BEACHES

I was lucky two years ago to have had the chance to visit Normandy and the D-Day Beaches.  We had arranged a day trip through the concierage at the Ritz Hotel in Paris.  At 7:00 AM the following morning a very nice gentleman named Phillippe picked us up. Little did I know that I would have the most moving and memorable experience that day and I would find myself reflecting on it many times afterwards.  Phillippe was so knowledgeable about the history and events that had transpired on the beaches of Normandy along with the history of the D-Day landings.  He had taken us to Versailles also during our previous visit to Paris.

We have kept in touch with Phillippe since then and had arranged to visit Sainte Mére Église (The Church of St. Mary),  Utah Beach and Utah Beach D-Day Museum.  This town would be one of the first towns to be liberated in the invasion, and we wanted to revisit the beaches of Normandy again too.   Phillippe picked us up at 7:00 AM and we set out for the day long journey. The 2 1/2 hour drive is well worth the trip from Paris for an incredible walk through history and very well worth the time and expense.  We wanted to see the paratrooper dummy that hangs in memorial to John Steele, the paratrooper who was caught on the spire of the church on June 6, 1944.  He hung there caught by his parachute for two hours playing dead.  If you want to see a great movie to learn of these events see "The Longest Day."  John Steele is portrayed by the actor Red Buttons.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Mère-Église

On our previous visit we started at the La Cambe German War Cemetery,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cambe_German_war_cemetery,  then went to the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc (picture left) which was the point where the United States Army Rangers attacked during Operation Overlord. This area is riddled with bomb craters from the naval ships. The sea here is the English Channel.

We would drove along the Atlantic Wall to see once again the coastal fortifications built by the German Third Reich to Omaha Beach.  No words could ever describe the events that took place here and its aftermath.  I picked up some sea shells along the beach to bring home to keep as a reminder..  We drove to Juno, Sword & Gold beaches. Then we came to Arromanches where the artificial harbors still lie on the beach and in the water.  It is just amazing to see these after all the years of storms and the fact that after 65 years they still lie here.  The D-Day Museum is not to be missed.  It is just beautiful and somber to see the items left on the beaches along with audio commentary and the different films to see.

Located on a bluff over Omaha Beach is the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur Mere where you find the large bronze statue entitled "The Spirit of American Youth" which is at the beginning of the cemetery.  The cemetery is the final resting place for the remains of 9,387 American military dead.  I walked among heros, so many young beautiful American men who freely gave their lives.  I couldn't help but cry, it is a very solemn and beautiful place.  This is United States soil and all the graves face the United States.

Phillippe pointed out the graves of the Niland Brothers of New York.  The story of the two brothers who lost their lives one day apart in June 1944, which the movie Saving Private Ryan is loosely based.

We came to the grave of Medal of Honor recipient Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the son of President Theodore Roosevelt which I have included a picture here.

We then walked through the battery of guns at Longues sur Mere also part of the Atlantic Wall.  I have a picture here of me reaching up to the gun barrel.  This area  which containis four 150 mm naval guns which still remain and seem to be built only several years ago.  This area was subject to heavy bombings by allied air forces.

If you are near the northwest of France and as I previously mentioned is only a day trip from Paris, it is truly not to be missed.

Phillippe of the Best of France Tours has once again made for a very special day for my family.  On Friday he will be driving us to Bruge, Brussels for another trip.  He can be contacted here:
http://www.best-of-france.net/  If you do contact Phillippe and book a trip just mention my name or this website for a referral price.  I am sure you will be satisfied with his friendliness, knowledge and he also speaks perfect English.