Monday, June 6th, 2011

What a day!  We started at Omaha Beach, we were very fortunate to witness a D-Day Memorial Service, including WWII Veteran, Bernard Dargols, G.I. Franco-american survivor!  (Read his story in one of the pictures below.)  It was a very moving service as we were blessed to have an interpreter along with us for the day, who shared every detail of his talk and what a message he shared!   Omaha Beach covers many miles of the coast line, just as the miltary ammo, shells, equipment and soldiers splattered the beach 67 years ago, the memorials run the coast line honoring those soldiers that gave of their time and lives for the freedoms we all experience today! 

We then visited the Normandy American Cemetery...another touching experience, as we found my Uncle's name and information in their records, as you might imagine it meant the world to dad!  (See the photo below.)  We attended some theater shows and walked the cemetery memorial, as you can guess, it was another day filled with emotions and it isn't over yet! 

Everyone gathered on the bus and we were off to Arromanches-Les-Bains, this is the reamins of the Mulberry Harbour.  The town is more commercial than anywhere we visited so far, with that comes a great celebration including a military band, a town center filled with re-enactors and their WWII vehicles and ended with a parade of bag pipers!! 

 We were then off to the Musee de la  Bataille de Normandie, this is a great museum filled with D-Day  and WWII history! 

We say goodbye tonight to a few families headed to Paris and Belgium...we're hanging on to the last day, as tomorrow we ride the ferry from Quistreham and return to Heathrow in the evening, our last night with our new-found family! 

Enjoy today's pictures...if you have questions, ask dad because I'm on "history over-load"! 

Omaha Beach...

WWII Veteran Mel Dart, he served in France, his friend Pam and our interpreter, Veteran Bernard Dargols, WWII Veteran Guy Bechtel and the past Mayor of the area around Omaha Beach.

More of Omaha Beach...

 

I love this picture...this trip meant the world to him!

Yup, you got it...more of Omaha Beach!

Leaving Omaha Beach coast line.

This pictures describes the lessons that are taught today in France revolving the 2nd World War...it is discussed and taught every chance there is, this country wants their children to grow up knowing the scrafices made for the lives they live today! 

At the bottom of the screen, it shows the Belgium Cemetery and plot location where Jim is buried. You can also see in the top right corner the Purple Heart. 

Recognize the "Guy" in the reflection? That's OUR Guy!  

In the back ground is more of Omaha Beach...it runs for miles and represents the events of that fateful  and historic, June 6th, 67 years ago today!

Arromanches-Les-Bains

If you look out into the water, you can see the remains of Mulberry Harbour. 

There were no pictures allowed in this museum...I guess you'll have to make the trip yourself to see how wonderful it was!  AND I know just the "tour guide" for you while you're in Europe! 



Stay tuned...our trip is coming to an end, but there is still one more day of fun before the very long flight home! 

Love to all,

Kerri & Guy