I'm going to Normandy (D-Day Beach area) in May. Anyone been?

[Jack from Charlotte]

Have hired a flat in Paris for mid May. My wife and my bro and his wife are going to a place without Republicans (I hope) for a week.

We've hired a Citroen to drive to Normandy for a day in order to tour the D-Day Beaches area. Has anyone been there? At the American Cemetery near St. Laurent-sur-Mer near Omaha Beach.... I'd like to take a flower from here to lay on the grave of a boy from North Carolina. Is that allowed?

[JohnKleeb]

1. thast prolly allowed never been there honest

I personally will be visiting Arlington Cemetery soon to photograph my relative's gravesite and to pray.

[ewagner]

2. My Brother-in-law

and his Father-in-law are going for the ceremonies and will tour France beforehand.

Lucky people.

on edit: I should note that the Father-in-law is a veteran of the invasion.

[Nashyra]

3. I have been twice

and I don't think one day is enough. The American Cemetary is an emotional high and low that you will never forget and if I recall correctly you may not leave items at the site. I look forward to your post's when you get back. It's great that you are going, so many of our soldiers there were so young that they never had a chance to marry and have children, there parents and siblings have pretty much passed away so therefore they have only the American people who they fought and died for to come visit them. We are taking are grown children and thier spouses next May, we have taken both sets of parents. If you can make the time take the whole costal trip of Normandy. If you can get to Arramaches, it is where they set up the floating port for the supply lines and you can still see parts of the piers. Have a great time!!!

[Jack from Charlotte]

4. I'll leave my North Carolina flower just outside the cemetery if need be.

Wish we had more time but we don't. We're leaving early AM by car from downtown Paris. About a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive. Going to Bayeux. From there to Arramaches, then on D-514 to Omaha Beach, the Cemetery, then Pointe du Hoc and then Utah.

Perhaps a stop in Rouen for a meal and then back to Paris.

[bif]

5. Be sure to check out the Bayeaux Tapestry.

It's right near there.

[Red_Viking]

6. I second that emotion

We were in France in February and went to Bayeux and the Normandy beaches. Well worth the trip to see the tapestry. Bayeux is a great little town, too.

I specifically wanted my 13-year-old daughter to see the beaches. She was impressed. It's odd to see people having fun on the beach, walking their dog, flying kites...on the site where so many men died to preserve freedom. The German bunkers are still there. It's humbling.

The cemetery is magnificent, and will make you shed many tears. We stood and cried in the middle of the crosses. So many. So many.

I believe you can leave flowers. I think there were some on graves when we were there.

Enjoy your trip!

RV

[Awsi Dooger]

7. I have been twice, unbelievably moving

Both times I based in spectacular Mt St Michel and made day trips to view the Normandy beaches.

The American cemetery was indeed the most memorable site, with white crosses lining the hillside and the entire area incredibly well manicured and maintained. The German cemetery, in contrast, was dull grey and almost built like a fort.

These spellings may be somewhat off, but I remember traveling to Pointe du Hoc and Arromanches, walking thru actual bunkers and watching a movie in a visitor center that depicted the invasion. A temporary port was built near Arromanches, but the massive storm a day or two before June 6 wiped out most of the docks.

The Germans were expecting the invasion much further up the coast. I remember walking across land just off the Normandy beaches that was littered with round cement bases designed to anchor massive German artillery. When the Allied troops grappled up the cliffs they discovered the foundations had yet to be armed, other than at Omaha, since those areas had not been a German priority.

Ten years ago I had a roommate whose dad was a D-Day vet, parachuting in. We watched the 50th anniversary ceremonies together. I asked him what he was thinking while parachuting in. "I rememeber exactly what I was thinking, "What the hell am I doing here?" he said. He detailed a chilling moment when he was separated from his unit and hid from the Germans at the base of a thick bush. "I was lying in the mud, as still as I could be. A big German boot splashed in the mud about 18 inches from my face. If that German had checked the bush, my life would have ended 50 years ago today -- no wife, no three daughters, no two sons."

[Nashyra]

8. Both times we went we were at Le Mt St Michel

That is right inside Brittinany, also saw the German Cemetary. It was very sad to see that dull gray cemetary after being at the American Cemetary. Can you believe the stupidity of that congresswoman who was advocating bringing our soldiers home from the American cemetary in France during the run up to the Iraq war, does she not know enough to know that those hero's are buried on American soil? I wish I was going back this May.

[Jack from Charlotte]

9. Thanks for that and you've given me an idea....

I think I'll take a small plastic jar and gather up some sand from Omaha Beach for my father-in-law. He's a 3-war vet who was shot down in his Mustang just off Okinawa and also won the Silver Star in 'Nam at age 48.

He said he flew over the Cemetery near Omaha Beach many times when he was stationed in England in the 50's.

[reformed_military]

10. Might want to check first

I think there is a issue about bringing sand back. I remember that vets from Gulf War I could not bring some back.

I believe that it has to do with bacteria and such in the soil/sand.