July 24, 2010

Wanderings through World War II

“Sorrow broke me…Brotherhood lifted me up again…From my wound has burst forth a river of liberty.” These are the words on the walls of the Memorial de Caen, a museum that retraces the history of World War II through French eyes. We spent five hours here and were overcome with all kinds of emotions—sadness, anger, pride, admiration…

From Caen, we drove to Omaha Beach, one of the two beaches where the Americans landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

The cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer is the final resting place of nearly 10,000 American soldiers. A solemn but peaceful place that overwhelms and inspires at the same time.

On to the Pointe du Hoc, where the American rangers scaled the cliffs. Waiting for them at the top were Nazi forces in bunkers and at numerous gun emplacements.