Took a morning walk around Mont Saint Michel. Did I mention this island has A LOT of stairs? Our legs got a good workout on this walk! It was fun to explore the nooks and crannies of this village. Amazing they were able to build it and it has stood the test of time. (I think that is actually a theme
throughout France.)
Dave and I looking out our hotel room windows.
Gary and Jenn on their fancy courtyard. Gary assumed they would be in the Kings Chambers, and he was right. ;)
Eating our waffle breakfast before leaving the island.
Now we are on to our WWII tour and Dave will be taking over the blog. He has read so much about the war and brought a binder full of information to share with the rest of us. Honestly, he would make a great tour guide. His stories have made the sites we have visited so much more meaningful and we are truly getting a lesson in history. I made it about two minutes before my tears started. I fought back bawling at times. But the words below, on a plaque at the first memorial were what started me off.
I hope you could read that as I am not sure the image quality this blog app allows us is good enough for that, but the last three words are "Never forget them." How could we?
Here's Dave.
Our first stop was La Fiere bridge. It was here that the 82nd airborne stopped the German advance toward Utah beach. Read about it. It is an amazing story filled with incredible personal accounts.
The Iron Mike monument at La Fiere commemorating the airborne. St. Michael is the patron saint of the airborne, hence Iron Mike.
Our guide.
2 bridges cross the Mederet River, here at La Fiere and at Chef du Pont. Both had to be taken to stop the German advance, and open up the peninsula.
Next we traveled a couple km east to St. Mere Eglise, the first town liberated on d-day. This was an important objective as it lies on a main north-south highway. It is home to the airborne museum.
The gang in front of a C-47 transport plane. Over 800 were used that night to drop American paratroopers into Normandy.
A stick of paratroopers came down right on the city of St. Mere Eglise. The residents and Germans were out fighting a house fire, which lit up the sky. Many paratroopers were killed as they landed in the square. Trooper John Steele hung from one of the church spires by his parachute most of the night until he was taken down by the Germans.
The beautiful stained glass window in the church. 2 paratroopers and Mary.
Monument to a C47 crash in a very small town in Beuzville. For those who are familiar with the book or movie Band of Brothers, the plane was carrying the company commander of Easy Company, Lt. Thomas Meehan. Because of his death Lt. Dick Winters became company commander of Easy, and the rest is history. Just before Meehan boarded his plane for Normandy he sent a letter to his wife with the following.....
"Dearest Anne, In a few hours I'm going to take the best company of men in the world to France. We'll give the (insert swear word) hell. Strangely, I'm not particularly scared. But in my heart is a terrific longing to hold you in my arms. I love you Sweetheart-forever. Your Tom."
Monument to Easy Company close to Brecourt Manor, where Easy attacked 4 German 105 mm guns shelling Utah beach. With 13 men they took out the guns defended by about 50 Germans.
My beautiful bride and I at Utah.
Utah beach.
Monument to the Navy at Utah.
German bunker at Utah.
One of my favorite sites. At Angoville-au-Plain 2 American medics set up an aid station in the church. There was intense fighting for 3 days and the town changed hands multiple times. The medics stayed in the church the whole time treating both the American and German wounded. There is a monument to both men in the square and 2 amazing stained glass windows.
Paratrooper over the church. The light reflection is so cool.
The screaming eagle of the 101 airborne is at the top, followed by the jump wings, and the regiment insignia. The names of the medics, Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore, are at the bottom under the statue of liberty. The red ribbon reads, "Greater love hath no man than this, than he lay down his life for his friends".
