What a Cool View

Before we took this trip I wasn't certain how much D-Day stuff we'd be able to see almost 70 years after the invasion. I was afraid I'd regret not getting here 30 years ago during my airline career when I could have easily hopped on a flight to Paris then driven out this way. In fact, in some ways there are more things to see now then there were 25 years after the event. Many remnants of buildings have been reinforced, cleaned-up and even excavated from under the rubble of the war. Long forgotten military equipment has been rescued from underwater or under farmer's fields to be restored and displayed all along the invasion's beaches. With my handy guide, "Stand Where They Fought", in hand I was able to trace much of the events and movements of the reconquest of Europe. The Battle for Normandy goes on long after the movies "Saving Private Ryan" and the "Longest Day" depict. The Allies expected to liberate Normandy and the much desired port of Cherbourg within days. The city of Caen, just South of the invasion sites was supposed to be liberated on Day One. It took 79 days.