[Pedro '84 Coupe]

My wife and I went on a tour in 2005. The train pulled into the station at Bayeaux and the beauty of the area was what struck me. Then we went to the various landing beaches and the American cemetery. It's hard not to get emotional there thinking of all those that gave their all to secure a foothold in Europe.

Pointe Du Hoc was closed off at this time because of erosion but we got to get pretty close. We got to go into the bunker where the invasion scene from "The Longest Day" was filmed and saw the mortar pits and other defenses. Unbelievable courage to overcome those.

One of the most poignant memories I have was a banner on one of the buildings that read "We Welcome Our American Liberators". The French have not forgotten the sacrifice of the American, British, Canadian and French and other Allied troops that day and are still grateful for their heroic efforts. The thing that really gets me is that Gen. Eisenhower had a letter written where he accepted full responsibility in case the invasion failed. Good thing he never had to use it.