Omaha Beach
 

My sister has taken my Mum to visit her Dad's grave in Normandy. First time both of them have been. He died fighting for a Scottish Highland regiment.

Just got a text from my Sister saying 'we are off to Omaha beach to thank the Americans'.

Thought I would share that with you, it brought a tear to my eye when I read it.

Amen!

It just boggles my mind trying to understand how brave these men were. Their is nothing I can say that would be of justice to they accomplished. It is overwhelming to think of what they all sacrificed, some paying the ultimate sacrifice. You should feel very proud to have the same blood coursing through your veins.

remembering our fallen hero's and the people that serve once a year is not enough IMO

Omaha is a moving place, especially as you look down from the bluffs and imagine what it was like that day.

I have been there several times and its always moving. Everyone should visit Normandy at least once, then on to the concentration camps... at least one time in your life.

What a wonderful thing. There are so many others from so many other places to thank, however.

Thanks to them all; all fronts, all places, conflicts large and small.

That's fantastic, Scott.

I visited in November, 2010 - it was a very humbling and powerful experience.

Here is a good photo site of the Normady battle places:

Normandy Beaches Photo Gallery

And the part that that one German machine gunner played:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Severloh

That's a bucket list visit for me as well.

It's only ~175 miles from Paris, but the roads are a nightmare.

I was driving around Normandy in a friend's Renault, but made Omaha Beach my final stop before driving back to Paris. It was a bank holiday... that trip took almost 7hrs.

Normally there/back is an all-day trip with a tour company, I hear.

Scott - I would love to hear more about their voyage and their experience.

Thanks for posting this Scott....we need a post like this every day....

Sending this to a client of mine - former U.S. Navy pilot and of Scottish ancestry.

Forty five years ago, I spent a weekend there as a thirteen year old kid, a friend of the family's parents were the American caretakers. Even then, the rows of crosses and Stars of David were humbling to a little, naive kid like me.

I was born that very day and each passing year that reminder has me given special thanks to and reverence for those exceptionally brave men... When my wife and I went to see '...Private Ryan' several years ago we both left the theatre crying like little children...

I got to shake the hand once again this weekend of a man I am proud to call a friend.

He landed in a glider on D-day. He said most of the men in the glider were throwing up into thier helmets. He was with the 17th Airborne. On Jan, 7th 1945 he was on dead man's ridge when most of his platoon was killed. They had such heavy losses they deactivated his platoon.

I always thank him for his service.

Scott - Thanks to you and thanks to your sister.

Glen - I would appreciate it if you would thank him for me as well.

Two places on this planet I haven't managed the strength to visit. Normandy and The Wall. Someday I think I'll get over it. I think.

Maybe.

Jim727 I Frickin love your quote!

I'm feeling kind of thick here - quote?

Politicians should be compelled to wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers, so we could identify their owners.

Ah!

'Tis true, though.