D-day

We spent the day going to the three American D-day landing locations.  Omaha,  Point du Hoc and Utah.  We started the morning at Omaha where the American cemetery is also located.

There is also a visitors center at Omaha.  I don't recall seeing it when I last visited 17 years ago.  It was well done with videos,  photos and stories from the soldiers who were there and background info on some soldiers that did not make it home after the war.  We walked down to the beach and walked the cemetery.

Afterwards we went to Point du Hoc,  the location of where the Army Rangers had to scale 100 foot cliffs in order to capture the big guns that were defending the beaches.  That area has also been developed with a boardwalk for easier access to the site. The old concrete bunkers are still intact at this location as are the craters in the ground where the artillery hit.

Finally we drove the Utah beach.  That was a little disappointing as it was commercialized compared to the other two locations.  There were some memorials at the location but it was also a location where the locals play at the beach.  Probably why there were cafes and ice cream shops right next to the site.

On the way back we also stopped by the German cemetery.  This location was the main American cemetery until they developed the current location. 

I hope the boys realize the importance of our stops at the landing beaches and at the WWII museum in Caen.