May 2, 2024 Cherbourg, France, 3 days left of 138

 As we are drawing to the end of our adventure, we are experiencing some of our most emotional excursions. Today we are going to Utah Beach, one of the beaches the Americans landed on June 6, 1944 the day known as D-Day. This June 6th will be a celebration of the 80th Anniversary. You can see the preparations all around the area, new museums, signs welcoming the returning liberators, our guide spoke reverently about the men who came to their aid. We felt very welcomed by the locals, and other visitors to the area. 

This is the church in St. Mere-Eglise. Paratrooper John Steele and 2 other paratroopers got hung up in the church with their parachutes. One of the men died on impact, one was able to get down and made his way back to safety, and John hung there for several hours until he was rescued by the Germans and became a prisoner. He was able to escape later and make his way back to safety. They hang this parachute and likeness of him on their church to remember. Below you will also see that the churches stained glass windows have the history of the parachute jump and D-Day immobilized, to remember.

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Note below the American soldier using the bike to make his way to the fight. They have cleverly placed reminders around the town.

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Above is a statue of "The Lone Sailor in Normandy" this was to honor the U.S. Navy and Allied Sailors who played an integral role in the success of the Battle of Normandy, enabling Allied forces to enter and move across Europe to rid the world of Axis tranny.

Mike walked into one of the bunkers, and this was displayed. Rommel had been in charge of protecting the French coast line. The Germans had 4 years to prepare for the invasion they were sure would come. Rommel's plan included 15,000 bunkers to be built, which 7,000 were completed before D-Day. They built anti tank sea walls, trenches, and flooded the areas leading away from the beach.                          

This is 0 Kilometers, or the starting point of the road followed by General Patton's Army in 1944. It is the symbol of the way to victory followed by Allied troops. This sits in front of their city hall.

Not a great picture, but we were told that the Germans prepared for an invasion. They cut down trees, removed homes, and this is two fortified bunkers with a clear field of fire. The armies had to run at and destroy these to move inland. It appeared to be a daunting feat.

If you look at the beach as the tide is going out, you will see the distance our troops had to cross to get to the safety of the sea wall, but this was only a short stop as they still needed to climb the wall and continue to move inland. For every battle fought and won, there were always more to follow.

This is another bunker built by the Germans. This is one of many that was 2 miles inland. After the war, land that had been taken over by the Germans was returned to the original landowners. Many left the fortifications that had been built by the Germans, some found uses for them, others just left them and used the land around them. It was great to be able to see the full extent the Germans had completed in their 4 years of occupation.

It was an informative and special tour today. We were quietly contemplating and thankful for our freedom as we returned to our ship. We frequently during this trip talk about how fortunate we are in our lives. We thank all who have served to protect this freedom. It does come with sacrifice and the ultimate sacrifice was evident today.

After some nourishment, we were ready to do a quick walk about in the town of Cherbourg.

They have an umbrella factory. We could see their staff making umbrellas one at a time the old fashion way. I loved the entrance which has all these umbrellas going up the atrium area. Mike was trying to catch me one. 

This is Sainte-Trinite Basilica, the place of Napoleon, and one of the oldest monuments in Cherbourg.

Right outside the above Basilica is the statue of Napoleon. We were told he was pointing toward England, but the pamphlet we picked up says he was pointing toward the military port of Cherbourg, for which he pursued the construction work initiated by Louis 16th. Can I say it again. There is history all around us.