Pay Respect to Fallen American Soldiers in Normandy

Did you know that there are 125,000 often forgotten U.S. soldiers buried in hallowed ground overseas? Why not incorporate a visit to a cemetery, monument, military museum, or battle site into a family vacation abroad?  This is a great way to show gratitude to those who have protected our country and will teach kids and grandkids that the fight for freedom does not stop at the U.S. border. Normandy, France, is a great place to start.

The American Cemetery

9,387 Americans are buried here, and with white crosses as far as the eye can see, be prepared for a sobering visit with your kids. A Retreat Ceremony with lowering of the flag and Taps takes place daily at 4 PM and is particularly moving. The visitor’s center puts the D-Day landings and follow-up battles in Europe in perspective as one of the greatest military achievements of all time. One activity that families like to do here is to count how many grave markers they can count from their home state.

Overlord Museum

This museum is ideally situated in the heart of the historical sector of Omaha Beach, close to the American Cemetery. It brings to life the events from D-Day to the liberation of Paris with twenty scenes displaying mannequins and vehicles set in reconstituted decor. The exhibits take a “hands-on” approach to history thanks to a rich collection consisting of the smallest personal objects to the largest military vehicles (landing crafts, GMC amphibian DUKW, Allied and German tanks of the Battle of Normandy and reconnaissance aircrafts). Eyewitness accounts and testimonials of veterans and civilians provide a human touch.

The D-Day Beaches

The D-Day beaches themselves are a great source of interest for the whole family and even the young ones. There are engraved stones that commemorate fallen American soldiers, German bunkers used as shelters during combat, and many memorials along these sacred shores.

Omaha Beach

Visit Omaha Beach and teach the kids a rich history lesson. This was the deadliest landing with numerous factors contributing to the 2,400 American casualties, many of the troops drowning before they even reached the beaches. Only 2 of the 29 launched tanks made it to the beach.  The others sank in the choppy waters. Due to the strong winds and tides, most of the troops didn’t land as planned, causing confusion as different troops intermingled.  Most importantly, the initial aerial bombings didn’t destroy the German gunners on the cliffs. This left many German positions above the landing zones to rain-down gunfire on the storming troops. But by nightfall on June 6th, 34,000 troops had made it ashore and held important tactical positions.

Happy Travels!