I just got home from a month in Europe(London, Belgium, France) and my most memorable day was spent on the Normandy coastline visiting the places I thought to be of most interest to me. I honestly feel my homage to these battlefields has truly allowed me to live history as best I could some 62 years since the guns fell silent.

Stop #1 - Omaha Beach

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

Stop #2 - Omaha Cemetery

Even as a Canadian, I couldn't help being swept by a tide of powerful emotions which brought me to tears on more than one occassion as I paced the area for a half hour, on a sombre, drizzling morning. Hearing the chiming bells sounding out God Bless America at the stroke of 10am as I walked out into the burial grounds was nothing short of emotionally profound. God bless my American friends and forefathers who gave their lives so I could one day return and pay my respects. IMO, a must see for any true WWII enthusiast.







Rest in eternal peace our heroes...

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

Stop #3 - Batterie Longues sur Mer

3 out of the 4 German heavy gun casings still remain intact with the 150mm barrels still pointing seaward.
Legend has it that the destroyed casing had a 6-pound shell arrive down the barrel in a DIRECT hit, but the more likely tale was an ordnace storage mis-hap long after the Allies had taken the area. Just awesome to see before the eyes, I must say.

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

Stop #4 - Canadian Cemetery at Revier

Half an hour alone with my fallen forefathers who fought and died for my future freedom. Bless them all with all my heart and soul. RIP my boys.

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

Stop #5 - Juno Beach

Where Canada proved its worthiness in battle and stormed in-land with great success. "Softer" defenses than what faced the Americans at Omaha, but nonetheless, a bloody battle that forced German high command to no longer consider the Canadians as "small fish". It wouldn't be long before our boys met their strongest opponent waiting in ambush, in the battle for Caen - the 12th SS Panzer.






MG34 gun nest from inside

It felt good to kneel down at the wet sand and splash the water around my face and neck in tribute to those who never made it ashore that morning.

I must mention the lovely French lady who gave me a vital ride down to the beach after I decided I could walk the 5km from Revier(along a country road with no shoulder and numerous speeding-by vehicles) but soon found myself in a state of confusion upon reaching the outskirts of Courselles. From complete strangers to friends with one generous act. Vive la France!

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

I hope many of you have enjoyed my 1st thread. I just found this forum tonight in search of somewhere to post my experience in Normandy. Take care everyone. And if you have ever thought of visiting these and other European battlefields, I can assure you that doing so will be the best decision you'll ever make.

PK

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

Wow! Pound for pound the best new member we've had in months! Those photos are stunning! [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

I'm going to visit Normandy in 2007, and now I know exactly where to go...

__________________

WWII Forums Rogues Gallery - send in your photo!
Comments, questions or feedback? Contact me at

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance." Socrates

Thanx for the excellent pics, ProudGrandson!

__________________

Agreed, brilliant thread and great pics. I went to Normandy a few years ago and you're pics brought it all flooding back.

Thanks again and well done!

__________________
There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

Excellent pictures ! [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

Did you get to go to Calis also ? If so did it still have the guns in place or were they destroyed after the war ?

Seeing all those graves makes me think, "there must be a better way to solve problems".

__________________
Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

CAlis? As in Calais?

__________________
There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

Excellent pictures. It is true that we too often take those relics for granted and do not always realize they are fragile. I like the Juno beach pictures for their authenticity.

__________________

Yes, that is how you say and spell Calais with a Texas accent ! With a London accent you would spell it Cowlay.

__________________
Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

Thanks to all for the great responses. The pictures and words don't really do justice for the feelings and energies that come over you when you're there - at least for me anyway.

I would have liked another day to visit Utah, Ponit du Hoc, Caen and a few other spots. Maybe in the near future.

Oh wait, I forgot to include Arromanche...

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

And the structure which housed the Allied command in the weeks following D Day

__________________
Never Forget the Fallen

More like Calay, like the French :wink: I see what you mean though.

More great pics, sure looks like you had a good visit.

__________________
There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

ProudGrandson,

WOW. Thank you for posting these photos - nothing short of amazing. I really hope to make this trip one day - I imagine it is an experience like nothing else in life.

Thanks again!

that was awesome! stellar post! i am making a trip to Europe in 2009, and i really wanted to visit the beaches along with Point Du Hoc etc etc, you have made me feel like i was there!!
thanks!!!

__________________
Members of the Dutch Resistance with 101st AB, Eindhoven. Operation Market Garden.

Scott

Excellent photos!!!

I will be travelling there soon ( I hope )

__________________
The war against Russia will be such that it cannot be conducted in a knightly fashion. This struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be conducted with unprecedented, unmerciful and unrelenting harshness. -Adolf Hitler

Thank you for sharing the photos. They engender an emotional response combined with your shared words and feelings. Glad to see a proud Canadian grandson who values all the Allies actions. I'm the proud daughter of a Canadian vet and I look forward to when I too get travel to these places to honour both my father and his contemporaries - probably 2009 or 2010.

Michelle

Michelle. If you have time don't forge tto check the regular cemeteries. Many of those (inclunding in my very hometime) have Canadian war graves, mostly RCA, and most people are not aware of that and go to the war cemeteries only. you can spot the right place immediatley when you see a see a CWGC sign (they may also have other Nationalities from the Commonwealth) on the main gate. In small villages these are on the main road so you won't even have to stop your car to spot such a place. There are also many small memorial dedicated to Canadians that are not mentionned , but are all the more interesting to see.

__________________

Bravo ProudGrandson. I'm sure your Grandfather is proud of you for taking the trip. Cheers.

__________________

American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

Thank you so much for your post and sharing your photographs.

Kind regards