Location: Normandy, France
Great for: Singles, Couples, Families, and Groups
Omaha Beach Visitor Center and American Cemetery
At first, I found it hard to smile in the photos, it was such an overwhelming and somber site to see with endless rows of crosses and WWII era planes tipping their wings as they flew overhead.
You see my father was there, in the planes, on that day so many years ago. Many people there were visiting for the same reason. The couple on the tour with us was there because her father was on the beach that day in 1944. She had to come, like I had to come, like my niece had to come. It is an honor, a tribute, a remembrance of a day, so long ago, that is part of us as Americans, part of France, and part of history.
You don't have to be a historian, understanding all that happened, to want to pay tribute to the soldiers there, on that day, June 6, 1944. I am not a historian, in fact, it was not until my father's passing that I learned he was there. He never talked about "the war", except for an occasional funny story about being trapped in a wine cellar, or taking a German motorcycle, disassembling it, and shipping it home for his return. I sat on that motorcycle for years as a child only knowing it was Dad's motorcycle from "the war".
Now on to the visit and what is there.
Called Operation Overlord, The Americans, British, Canadians, and French all fought at Normandy to free France, and Europe, from Germany. I visited the American Cemetery.
The first stop on our tour was Omaha Beach where you will find the Visitor's Center, Omaha Beach Overlook, and the American Cemetery.
The Visitor Center
Upon entering the area, you will first go through the visitor center. The center contains photos, films, displays, and artifacts of the invasion. The intent is to help visitor understand and reflect on the planning, courage, and sacrifice of Allied forces in what was later to be considered the greatest amphibious invasion in history. One that affected the course of world history. As you grow near the end of the center toward the exit you will hear the names of those lost. There is only silence and names. Like others passing through this area, I didn't want to say a word, just listen.
The American Cemetery
As you approach the cemetery you will see the overlook to your right with a map depicting the landing beaches and the divisions assigned to each section. It was hard to smile looking at the crosses in the distance and Omaha Beach where so many were lost.
As of my visit in 2019, there are 9,387 headstones in the cemetery. Laid to rest are 45 sets of brothers, 3 Medal of Honor recipients, and 1,557 tablets of the missing. The white Lasa marble headstones are perfectly aligned. When you look closely you will see coins on many of the stones. While the stories vary slightly, these coins reflect how well the visitor knew the soldier; a penny means a simple tribute to a soldier, a nickel means they were at boot camp together or knew the person,a dime they served together in some capacity, and a quarter meaning there on the day of his passing. You will see the grave of Theodore Roosevelt, his son Quentin, and the soldiers represented in the film "Saving Private Ryan" with the true family name of Niland not Ryan.
While there, I saw a young man in a WWII uniform and a woman in a WWI-era nurse's uniform walking hand in hand. The guide told us that every time he is there, he sees many people dressed in WWII uniforms and there are always planes from that era and beyond that fly by and tip their wings. The planes came by almost every half hour while we were there if not more. Most are owned and maintained by private owners. People from that time are known as the "Greatest Generation" and there is no denying they sacrificed much for freedom.
So if you are a history buff, have a connection here, or just visiting France. I encourage you to go. it is difficult to visit and not feel the importance of this site. Take a tour like I did or go on your own, just go!
A few more photos
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