Last September, a group of 24 military veterans and their travel companions embarked on an educational and emotional pilgrimage to Normandy, France.
Omaha Beach in Normandy gained profound historical significance as a pivotal landing site during the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day. Its strategic importance lay in its role as one of the five landing zones targeted by Allied forces to establish a beachhead in German-occupied France.
Despite meticulous planning, the initial assault on Omaha Beach encountered fierce German resistance, resulting in heavy casualties among the American troops. However, through sheer determination and bravery, Allied forces eventually secured the beachhead, facilitating the inland advance and eventual liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Omaha Beach symbolizes the immense sacrifice and valor of the Allied soldiers, marking a crucial turning point in World War II and heralding the beginning of the end for the Axis powers.
This special nine-day departure was Road Scholar’s first program offered exclusively for military veterans and their travel companions.
The program took these Road Scholars from Paris to the beaches of Normandy to learn about war history, art history and the places where these two faces of France intersect. The itinerary was based on one of Road Scholar’s most popular European programs, The Best of Northern France: Paris and Normandy but was enhanced to include additional military history programming, along with a visit to the Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum) in Paris and a field trip to the Mémorial de Caen, commemorating World War II’s “Battle for Caen.”
The Musée de l’Armée in Paris is a renowned military museum housed within the historic complex of Les Invalides. Established in 1905, the museum boasts an extensive collection spanning centuries of military history, with artifacts ranging from ancient times to the modern era. Visitors can explore exhibits showcasing weaponry, armor, uniforms, artwork, and memorabilia from various conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars, World War I, and World War II.
One of its most notable attractions is the Dome Church, where the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte is situated, adding a unique historical and cultural dimension to the museum experience.
The Musée de l’Armée offers visitors a comprehensive insight into the military heritage of France and its global impact throughout history, including an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits related to World War II, including those pertaining to the Normandy landings.
Visitors like this group of veterans can explore displays featuring equipment, uniforms, documents, and personal items used by Allied forces during the invasion. Additionally, the museum houses archives and interactive exhibits that provide insight into the planning, execution, and aftermath of D-Day, offering a comprehensive understanding of this pivotal moment in history.
The Mémorial de Caen, located in Normandy, is a comprehensive museum and memorial dedicated to the history of the 20th century, with a particular focus on World War II and the D-Day landings. Established in 1988, the museum offers immersive exhibits that explore the causes, events, and consequences of the war, emphasizing themes of conflict, resistance, liberation, and reconciliation. Visitors can engage with multimedia displays, archival footage, personal testimonies, and reconstructed scenes to gain a deeper understanding of the human experience during wartime.
One of the highlights of the Mémorial de Caen is its extensive exhibition dedicated to the events of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. This exhibit offers a comprehensive overview of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944, showcasing artifacts, documents, and multimedia presentations that vividly depict the planning, execution, and aftermath of the largest amphibious assault in history.
The veterans immersed themselves in the experiences of soldiers and civilians during this pivotal moment of World War II, gaining a profound insight into the sacrifices, heroism, and struggles that shaped the course of history.
The Mémorial de Caen also serves as a center for education and reflection, hosting conferences, seminars, and educational programs aimed at promoting peace, tolerance, and international understanding. Its location in Normandy, near the site of the D-Day landings, adds to its significance as a place for remembrance and commemoration of the sacrifices made by Allied forces and the civilian population during the war.
The visit to Omaha Beach, its fortifications, and the monuments erected in memory of that fateful day were indeed the trip’s highlights. At dawn on June 6, 1944, Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious assault in history, commenced with the Allied invasion of German-occupied France. Among the five landing beaches, Omaha Beach, assigned to the American 1st Infantry Division and 29th Infantry Division, witnessed unparalleled heroism and staggering sacrifice.
Omaha Beach posed unique challenges during the D-Day assault. Tides and weather caused
an unplanned delay, allowing German troops to recover from the aerial bombardment. The naval bombardment missed the beach and fortifications, leaving the German forces at near-full strength. A wide beach had to be traversed, and massive cliffs had to be climbed to engage the enemy. Incomplete intelligence failed to warn the Americans of elite German troops awaiting them atop.
German defenders, entrenched in heavily fortified positions, unleashed a withering barrage of fire upon the vulnerable landing craft, turning the calm waters into a maelstrom of chaos and death.
At the shoreline, the first wave of troops encountered a nightmare landscape of obstacles and hazards. Deadly mines, barbed wire entanglements, and underwater obstacles known as “hedgehogs” impeded their progress, leaving them exposed to withering enemy fire.
Those who reached the shore and made it across the beach fought their way up steep cliffs and bluffs.
Amidst chaos and carnage, acts of heroism and selflessness emerged as soldiers rallied to overcome obstacles. Medics braved enemy fire to tend to the wounded, while officers led their men forward with resolve.
For over 1000 Americans, the ultimate sacrifice was unavoidable as they fell, their young lives snuffed out on the blood-soaked sands of Omaha Beach.
Despite the ferocity of German resistance, American soldiers refused to be deterred, gradually gaining a foothold on the beach. By midday, reinforcements arrived, bolstering efforts to break German defenses and secure the beachhead.
As the sun set, the American flag flew atop a prominent clifftop between Omaha Beach and neighboring Utah Beach called “Pointe du Hoc”, signaling the hard-won victory of Allied forces. Yet, the cost was immeasurable, with the beach strewn with the wreckage of war and the bodies of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Over 4000 allied troops died that day, with twice as many wounded or missing.
The veterans stopped at the shoreline at Omaha Beach and reflected on the heroism and sacrifice there.
A monument to the First US Infantry Division was right at the water’s edge, a swooping wedge of stone, commemorating the men of the “Big Red One” and their role on D-Day. Immediately next to it, rising from the waters, is a sculpture “Les Braves”, a symbolic representation of shared values of Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality.
The veterans’ tour continued to Pointe du Hoc, taken by the Ranger commandos, and on to the British and Canadian landing sites on Juno and Sword beaches, all with monuments, the ruins of German gun emplacements, and other tributes and remembrances of the D-Day events.
At the Normandy American Cemetery, the veterans shared a moving ceremony to pay respects to those who made the greatest sacrifice of all on June 6, 1944.
The Normandy American Cemetery, located near Omaha Beach in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, is a solemn tribute to the brave American soldiers who gave their lives during the D-Day landings and subsequent operations in Normandy. Situated on a bluff overlooking the English Channel, the cemetery spans 172 acres of meticulously landscaped grounds adorned with rows of white marble crosses and Stars of David, marking the final resting places of over 9,000 fallen soldiers. At the center of the cemetery, a majestic semicircular colonnade overlooks a reflecting pool, inscribed with the names of over 1,500 missing soldiers whose remains were never recovered.
The Veterans were greeted by a powerful bronze statue entitled “The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves,” symbolizing the sacrifice and courage of the Allied forces who stormed the beaches on June 6, 1944. The serene and reverent atmosphere of the Normandy American Cemetery offers a poignant reminder of the cost of freedom and the enduring legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against tyranny.
And later that afternoon, participants had the opportunity to visit a virtually unknown American memorial at a local cider maker’s farm. The monument honors the fallen of the 147 Engineer Combat Battalion. The battalion used the estate as their command center during the war and erected the monument during their stay.
The Road Scholar tour group took a little time off from their emotional day to enjoy the sparkling cider unique to this region of France before they boarded the bus for the rest of their nine-day leaning excursion.
Many of the participants who attended this program had parents or other relatives who served in WWII, including multiple participants whose uncles landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944. “I have always wanted to go to Normandy,” said Marty B., from Coquille, Oregon. “My Uncle Martin landed in Normandy, served with the 29th infantry division and was in combat all the way into Germany until the end of the war.” Marty himself is also a veteran and traveled with his wife, Mary Jo on their tenth Road Scholar program. “She encouraged me to participate in this program. We were married just before my deployment to Vietnam, and we just celebrated our 55th anniversary.”
Libby C., the Group Leader who led the group throughout their nine days in Normandy, said that the program experience was very moving — not just for the participants, but for her as well. “I’ve led this program countless times, but this is the first time we’ve had a special date just for veterans,” she said. “It took this already very emotional program to the next level. I could feel the camaraderie among the veterans grow even more quickly and more deeply, and the events in which we honored fallen soldiers and other WWII veterans held a heavier weight. There was a sense that these people understood at a deeper level the sacrifices and experiences of the historical heroes and events we were commemorating. It was an unforgettable experience for them, but for me as well. A great honor.”
Karen D. and her husband Gary, a U.S. Army vet from Delaware, Ohio, enrolled in this program to honor Gary’s uncle who participated in the D-Day invasion and died of his wounds. “Honoring Uncle James and seeing the exact spot he landed in Normandy will forever be a lifetime highlight,” said Gary.
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