AOSC Forum Archive

I had the privilege to be able to go to France and see Gold, Omaha and Utah beaches in Normandy, France. Also was able to visit the Normandy American Cemetery, Point du Hoc, and gun battery emplacements between Gold and Omaha beaches last month.  Understanding what Memorial Day means really hits you when you are standing among the thousands of crosses at the cemetery.  

I have many pics of my visit here => http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/Straightshot954/Normandy%20France%20May%202010/

A few pics are posted below:

Parts of the Mulberry Harbor still remain at Gold Beach
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3729.jpg[/img]

Sherman Tank overlooking Gold Beach and the Mulberry Harbor remnants
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3745.jpg[/img]

Sherman Tanks weren't big, but we had overwhelming numbers
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... dBeach.jpg[/img]

German gun battery between Omaha and Utah beaches
[img width=1024 height=680]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3755.jpg[/img]

Observation post forward of the gun battery (I tried scaling it - second pic)
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3757.jpg[/img]
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3766.jpg[/img]

I wore my Peace Through Superior Firepower t-shirt on my travels to Normandy 
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3819.jpg[/img]

Superior firepower was here (yes, that's part of the barrel in the ground in the front of the pic
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3799.jpg[/img]

Still pointing out to sea
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3824.jpg[/img]

Normandy American Cemetery
[img width=1023 height=705]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3828.jpg[/img]
[img width=771 height=1023]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... metary.jpg[/img]
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3853.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3913.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3872.jpg[/img]
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3885.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3886.jpg[/img]
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3895.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3891.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3903.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... morial.jpg[/img]

Omaha Beach - it's a long way to the water
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3928.jpg[/img]

Monument at Omaha Beach
[img width=733 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3917.jpg[/img]
[img width=1023 height=741]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3944.jpg[/img]

Pointe du Hoc Memorial
[img width=1023 height=745]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3950.jpg[/img]
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3966.jpg[/img]

Craters still remain from the bombing at Pointe du Hoc
[img width=1023 height=759]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3969.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF3954.jpg[/img]

Underground compartments still remain at Pointe du Hoc
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4000.jpg[/img]
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4005.jpg[/img]

Utah Beach
[img width=1024 height=510]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4024.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=747]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4039.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4034.jpg[/img]

Museum at Utah Beach
[img width=1023 height=751]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4028.jpg[/img]
[img width=1024 height=769]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4033.jpg[/img]

Monuments at Utah Beach
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4031.jpg[/img]
[img width=809 height=1023]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4040.jpg[/img]
[img width=769 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4067.jpg[/img]
[img width=773 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4071.jpg[/img]
[img width=765 height=1024]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/ ... CF4073.jpg[/img]

Those are really amazing man. Going there is definitely on my bucket list

I brought back some sand from Omaha Beach.  Should have gotten some from Utah Beach, but I was lazy.

  Thanks, that was the most awesome thing I have seen all week!

It puts me to shame to think that I've lived in Europe for nearly 6 years and still haven't been to that beach.