Omaha Beach and Normandy American Cemetery
The weather set the
mood for our visit to Omaha Beach and the Normandy American Cemetery;
it was cold, windy, and gray - a suitable day for quiet reflection.
The morning started as always with the usual on-bus chatter
and
discussions about all things French. We spent the
night
in
Arromanches, met up with our special British tour guide for this visit,
and set off for the American
Cemetery and then to Omaha Beach and the surrounding area.
From
the time we arrived at the cemetery and got off the bus, the
general mood was subdued.
First Impressions
When we were looking over itineraries for France we specifically wanted
to visit this site - and we are very happy we did. We have
seen the movies, read the books, and
watched the television programs. We have also visited other
national cemeteries, but the sheer size of this place is overwhelming.
Walking through the site and looking
down endless rows
of grave markers gave us a sense of loss and reflection.
Standing
here we couldn't help but wonder what sort of life experiences all of
the people that are remembered here might have otherwise
enjoyed.
Memorial
The cemetery contains the remains of over 9,000 servicemen and
women and occupies over 170 acres.
Omaha Beach
We also had some time to walk through gun mounts behind the
beach and bunkers above the beach to experience in a small way the
magnitude of the D-Day landing.
Not a Good Day
Standing in one of the remaining bunkers above the beach,
it is apparent that both the Axis forces and the Allied forces had a
very difficult time. The Germans had months to prepare for
this day with every possible avenue to the beach covered with multiple
fields of fire. When they peered out to the water they saw
hundreds of ships and thousands of troops coming ashore.
Neither side wanted to be there that day. The
losses were unimaginable.
Hotel de la Marine
Our hotel in Arromanches was a laid-back venue
located right on
the sea wall looking north to the English Channel (oops, sorry Patrick,
"the Sleeve"). The large windows to the room opened to the
sidewalk - the ultimate place for those who like lots of fresh air.
We had two windows; when both were open we felt like
we were
virtually on the beach. With the salt air, the cool breeze,
and the
thunder of the surf at high tide, a good night sleep was a certainty.
With our next stop at the busy St. Michel, this restful stop
was
very much appreciated.
