D-Day 6th June 1944

Being as it was hubby's 50th birthday earlier in the year, we had said that he could choose this years holiday destination, and it came as no surprise to any of us when he said that he would like to visit the landing beaches in Normandy. He is a bit of a World War 2 boff and he had always wanted to visit here since he was young. On the day that we did the American sector, the weather was very grey and mizzly (but strangely warm) and we all thought that it fitted the solemn mood. Our first port of call was St Mere Eglise. An American Parachute had accidentally been snagged on the church spire and he played dead for 2 hours before the Germans cut him down. I was relieved to read that he survived the war. They still hang a dummy on the church to commemorate this.

The stained glass window in the church depicts the importance of the ParachuteRegiment in the liberation of the village.

We then moved on to Utah Beach. Its hard to imagine what this would have looked like on the morning of the 6th June 1944 when the allies landed - and also the days after once the beaches had been secured and the tanks and jeeps began rolling in.

I thought that the kids would be bored, but they asked so many questions - all of which Dad answered in much detail.

Next stop was La Pointe du Hoc.

I was fascinated by the work being carried out to save the cliffs which are crumbling into the sea,

But the boys were more interested in exploring the Batteries and holes across the whole site. At this place, the Allies had to climb the cliffs once they had landed on the beach.

The area around here is littered with old bits of equipment like this landing craft. Hubby had us jumping in and out of the car to explore every piece!

We then went to Omaha Beach which was also massive. This temporary sculpture has been here at least 3 years longer than they intended it to be. It lights up blue in the evening. I bet it looks spectacular.

At the bottom end of Omaha Beach, lies the huge American Cemetery. It was around 5pm when we got here and I expected it to be fairly empty - the car park was packed! The sun came out too at this point. It is set in the most beautiful of settings (its the one featured at the start and finish of "Saving Private Ryan").

Nothing prepares you for the sight of 9387 graves - stretching as far as the (very watery) eye can see. It knocks you sideways. I couldn't help think of all the mothers who never got to see the final resting place of their sons. Hubby read me lots of facts and figures about the place, but the one that stuck was that their were 42 sets of brothers laid to rest here.

There are only 4 that have the "Medal of Honour" . I was amazed to find one, and a famous one at that too. He is buried with his brother by his side. His brother is the only one in the cemetery from the first world war.

The mosaic on the chapel ceiling was beautiful.

Finally, it was off to Arromanche for refreshments!! Here you could see the remains of the magnificent Mulberry Harbour that was built by the Allies to land tanks etc. So much of it is still intact.

It was a very special day for hubby as he had held a dream to visit for so long, but we all thought it was one of the most interesting and moving days out we had ever had.