No Links were listed yet. Go ahead and share!
Memorials in Normandy France
In 1066, William of Normandie armed his ships to sail for England. And nine centuries later, the largest fleet ever assembled headed from England to Normandie where the allies planned to land their troops. It’s on June the sixth of 1944, almost 7000 ships of every type even those made of ferrous concrete headed for the beaches whose names have become a part of history, the history of the world not just of World War II and of D-Day but for all time. The allies planned to overwhelm the Germans and take command of the installations along the coast. Wave after wave of Bombers drop their loads and returned to England for more.
Then the ships moved in closer the shore to use their huge guns to Bombard the German emplacements. Then the landing craft came in to discourage the troops. Many of them sailed right into the face of enemy fire. The German machine guns and mortars blast the way from their strategically placed bankers. The beaches offered little protection for the allied soldiers, but they did come ashore to establish a beach head. Many didn’t make it. Those that did were pinned down by fierce enemy fire. A group of 225 rangers under the command of Colonel James Rudder came straight up the cliffs of Pointe-du-Hoc. Their mission was to capture the German command post and the concrete gun emplacements. Some of them over 10-feet thick reinforced with iron. The rangers gained the top and then held off several German counter attacks. By the time they were relieved, 81 of the rangers had been killed and another 58 wounded.
After the war, the French presented Pointe du Hoc to the United States as a memorial. From the bunkers, you can look over the puck marked areas bomb craters which become a playground for the children—hope also learned the story of the heroes of this place.
Nine miles to the East of Point Durham along the coast lies the American military cemetery. It’s here that we can pause and remember those who gave their lives for their country and for Europe. This peaceful setting is above Omaha Beach where American troops suffered massive casualties. Almost 50% of the soldiers were killed on the first day of the assault and God alone knows the number of wounded both and body and in spirit. So many of us still living lost a father or a brother or uncle on these beaches and I think it behooves us to travel to one of the many military cemeteries whenever we go to France. And like the young girl who came to the wall and scribe with numerous names, she left roses on the wall with a note that just said Thank You.
At times the Abbey of Mount Saint Michel was always surrounded by water during high tide. One panel over the Bayeux Tapestry shows a Norman soldier being pulled from the wet sand. Now, the water level is much lower and sheep can grace peacefully here around the clock without getting wet feet. We can see how persistence finally pays off for one of the lambs as the mother stops to grace and is literally attacked by her big offspring—arrives on bicycle to inform everyone that the sheep do have the ride away. And he certainly take advantage of it backing up traffic sometimes for a couple of miles.
The Abbey is spectacular whether shrouded in mist or shining in bright sunlight. There’s only one entrance leading into Mont Saint Michel and one narrow street lined with shops. There are only 120 permanent residents but during the high season, over 9,000 people come to the site everyday arriving by bus and car and then they have to climb and climb to finally get a view of the Abbey and the bay below.
One man from Wisconsin chose a very different means of transportation. He claimed that he could get 100 miles per liter on his bicycle and off he goes up the coast.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services