Bill Savoie
Active member
I had the good fortune to visit the Normandy landing beaches, Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetery. My time in France has been marred by hordes of children on school holiday. It appears at this time of year they load them on buses for something to do before school releases. Each museum has seen waves of laughing, yelling children. Arrgh!
This morning I visited Utah Beach just after daybreak, at low tide. We were alone, walked out to the remains of a landing craft. I watched as the French raised the flags over the monuments, raising the American flag before their own. What those men endured I cannot fathom.
We made it to Pointe du Hoc before the tour busses. I've seen photos, but nothing prepares one for the sheer cliffs, the German emplacements, the destruction from the bombing and shelling, and what those Rangers did is nothing short of superhuman.
Omaha Beach was again stunning, but the hordes were starting to show, even in the rain. The tide had come in, so the impression of what our men covered coming across was limited, but the dunes they fought over are still intimidating.
We were at the American Cemetery as the school tours buses pulled up. As I walked through the cemetery in pouring rain, I saw a group of children circling the American flag at the center of the memorial there. I started to head away when I heard them sign the Star Spangled Banner. I stood and cried. Our boys are not forgotten, and what they did still matters to the people of Normandy and France.
This morning I visited Utah Beach just after daybreak, at low tide. We were alone, walked out to the remains of a landing craft. I watched as the French raised the flags over the monuments, raising the American flag before their own. What those men endured I cannot fathom.
We made it to Pointe du Hoc before the tour busses. I've seen photos, but nothing prepares one for the sheer cliffs, the German emplacements, the destruction from the bombing and shelling, and what those Rangers did is nothing short of superhuman.
Omaha Beach was again stunning, but the hordes were starting to show, even in the rain. The tide had come in, so the impression of what our men covered coming across was limited, but the dunes they fought over are still intimidating.
We were at the American Cemetery as the school tours buses pulled up. As I walked through the cemetery in pouring rain, I saw a group of children circling the American flag at the center of the memorial there. I started to head away when I heard them sign the Star Spangled Banner. I stood and cried. Our boys are not forgotten, and what they did still matters to the people of Normandy and France.
