For Memorial Day weekend we went France to see [some of the] historical landmarks of World War II. Our first stop was the small town of Sainte Mère Eglise. This town was the target for 15,000 American paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The goal of these paratroopers was to attack the rear of the German forces postioned along the beachhead. One paratrooper named Private John Steel dropped into the town and was caught up in a church spire. The German forces thought he was dead and he was forced to hang there motionless for hours. A replica hangs there today as a tribute from the grateful parishioners to the American troops who paraachuted in during the early hours of 6 June 1944.
After visiting Utah Beach, our last two stops were La Pointe du Hoc and the Omaha Beach Memorial. Despite the travel and sometimes unruly kids, this trip was such a humbling experience. To go down to the beach and look up and imagine the gunners pointing down at you, speaks volumes of the courage and strength of the men who so bravely risked their lives during the liberation of France.
From there we visited Utah Beach. The allied amphibious landing consisted of 6000 ships, 20,000 vehicles, and 185,000 men. Ninety-Thousand Allied and German men died during the battle of Normandy from Jun-Aug 1944.
After visiting Utah Beach, our last two stops were La Pointe du Hoc and the Omaha Beach Memorial. Despite the travel and sometimes unruly kids, this trip was such a humbling experience. To go down to the beach and look up and imagine the gunners pointing down at you, speaks volumes of the courage and strength of the men who so bravely risked their lives during the liberation of France.
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