My first time in Normandy - The 70th year since D-Day

[Normandy1944]

Since a few years my interest in D-Day has grown.

I never visited Normandy, so my family and I decided to go here with the 70th commemorations.

We stayed in a rental near St Lo, so it was 50 minutes to the beaches.

I was given the task to prepare an agenda for our stay from June 5th - June 8th.

 

On the 5th we arrived and we visited Utah Beach.

 

Dakota's filled with paratroopers on their way to Utah, including 93 year old airborne veteran Jim Pee Wee Martin

 

 

From the Dunes

 

 

Clearing the beach from mines

 

 

View from a bunker

 

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June 6th

 

 

5:00am on our way to Carentan where we were escorted to Colleville sur Mer

 

 

After we parked our car in Mosles we had to take a bus to the cemetery. Guess how the VIP's travelled...

 

 

My first time at the cemtery. Very emotional. Below those crosses lies someone who died for our freedom

 

 

View on Omaha

 

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Obama thanks the veterans. I did the same afterwards, because those men fought for our freedom.

 

 

No words...

 

[Sabrejet]

Great pics. Maybe our paths crossed without realizing it?!

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Afternoon.

 

Found an old kiln. Someone was here before me.

 

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The ceremony at the 29th infantry division monument.

 

 

 

One of my little brothers asked what the stripes meant on the arms from the American soldiers.

I asked two men with many stripes with my brother.

They told me everything about it, including the fact they were the current commanders of the 29th infantry division.

Oops, I didn't expect this.

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Omaha and Pointe du Hoc in the evening.

 

 

 

 

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I'll post the pictures of Saturday later.

[Normandy1944]

Great pics. Maybe our paths crossed without realizing it?!

 

Thanks. Could be indeed.

However, our rental wasn't near the beaches and the dropzones, so we only went to ceremonies and places we really wanted to see.

We skipped St Mere Eglise, because a Vietnam veteran told us it was very crowded.

[Sabrejet]

 

Thanks. Could be indeed.

However, our rental wasn't near the beaches and the dropzones, so we only went to ceremonies and places we really wanted to see.

We skipped St Mere Eglise, because a Vietnam veteran told us it was very crowded.

 

He was not wrong!

[hink441]

Great pictures ,

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Chris