Actually, it's D-Day...

[Beavs]

Today, June 6th, is D-Day which is worth remembering for many of us...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/

 

[crazystepr]

Thank you, Beavs.

Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90

 

[deanie]

Thanks Beavs. I realized that this morning too! (its also my friends wedding anniversary)

Deanie

 

[SRP]

That certainly was a very important day. Thanks for reminding us, Beavs.

 

[TeTe]

Thanks, Beavs.

It's also the day Robert Kennedy died. I definitely remember that.

 

[allwildgirl]

I always remember this day. It's just too important not to, ya know?

 

[Miss Lee]

Thanks Beavs. Yes, I remember, it's poignancy deeply embedded in my heart after visiting my Uncle's grave at the American military cemetery in the Netherlands last year. He was only 23 years old when he was killed in battle on March 6, 1945 -- just 2 months before the war was over.

 

[LeanneM]

Thanks for the reminder, Beavs!

 

[Gayle]

Sorry this post is big, but I felt compelled to share...

My Mom and I did a one-day tour of the D-Day beaches when we visited France last month.

I really didn't know what to expect beforehand, but it turned out to be a much more emotionally intense experience than I expected. I was really glad we did it.

Here are some photos from the trip (sorry for the sparse commentary, but I'd end up writing a book otherwise):

Pointe du Hoc - All of those craters were from allied bombs.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Gayleski/Normandy/photo#5208816864639380962

Omaha Beach and the American Cemetary - The video display in the museum here was amazing...sobering...

http://picasaweb.google.com/Gayleski/Normandy/photo#5208816871347778306

http://picasaweb.google.com/Gayleski/Normandy/photo#5208816879874529650

Juno Beach - The site of the Canadian Landing

http://picasaweb.google.com/Gayleski/Normandy/photo#5208816874161893378

Arromanche - This is a town that was essentially destroyed during the invasion (7 buildings left standing) and re-built. There's a visitors center there that runs a 360 degree movie showing footage during the invasion, with footage now of the re-built town. It was extremely well done.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Gayleski/Normandy/photo#5208816872710209298

If you ever have the chance to visit France, I'd highly recommend visiting some of these sites. This was a day trip from Paris. I think it took us about 2-2.5 hours to get to the Normandy region.

 

[Gayle]

OK...did those pictures NOT show up??? I can see them in Firefox, but not in IE...grrrrrr...

 

[Beavs]

I am envious you were there Gayle! Hopefully when I get out of firewall land I can see the pictures as I would really like to see them.

Michele--I'm happy to know you could visit your uncle's final resting place. Whenever I look at the old news reels and such I cannot help but wonder what young men like your uncle were thinking and how they made it through each day wondering if they'd live to see tomorrow.

 

[wlorrie]

Thanks Beavs.

I've been to the American Cementaries in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourge, and Normandy. What a moving, humbling experience. I remember looking at the thousands of graves, seeing the names and the states, and thinking about far away from home those young men were when they died. Especially Normandy. Visiting the beaches, you get a sense of tremedous odds the troops were facing.
God Bless America!
Lorrie