Omaha and the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer were the most powerful part of the trip for me. The cemetery is just a stones throw from Omaha beach. The guide kept pointing out that the land was still owned by the French but on a permanent loan to the US. I refrained from pointing out they'd given it to the Germans, then CAN/US/UK took it from the Germans so technically their whole country was ours, we just happened to be nice enough to give it back to them, but it didn't seem worth the effort.
On the way in the drove past Omaha beach, it was both powerful and a let down. The ground has a hallowed feeling, but nothing has been done to preserve any of the beaches (Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword) so there are rental houses, cheesy tourist traps, restaurants etc right on the beach. In some ways I think it's pretty powerful that a place that saw so much horror is now just a place to come to the beach, but then it's hard to get in the mood.  |
| The statute is named "The Spirt of American Youth Rising from the Waves" The quote above is "This embattled shore, portal of freedom, is forever hallowed by the ideals, the valor and the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen." |
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| It was cold! |
