Pools Across the Pond: Normandy Trip

A couple of weeks ago, we went back to Normandy, France with Mom and Dad. It was very meaningful for Dad because he is a WWII history buff. He was able to see in person what he has only read about in the books. The trip took us back in time and brought the days of war back to life. It made all of us renew our appreciation and gratefulness for the sacrifices made for our freedom.
We stayed in the quaint town of Bayeux, France. This was one of the only towns not bombed during the war. We took a bus to all the D-Day beaches: Utah, Omaha, Juno, Sword, and Gold beach.
We visited Saint Mere Eglise, the first town liberated by the Allied soldiers. The 101st Airborne Rangers (Screaming Eagles) landed here surrounded by Germans. One soldier's parachute caught on the church steeple where he stayed for 2 hours and watched the action below. God spared his life. Also, we stopped in the city of Arromanches where the Allies built a floating harbor in order to get supplies off ships onto land. Of the many places we visited, the American cemetery at Omaha Beach was the most moving experience; so many crosses representing all the men and women who gave their lives on foreign land. Let's not ever forget the sacrifices that were made and continue to be made by our military.
While visiting Normandy, we took a side trip through the French countryside to the historic Island Monastery of Mont St. Michel. It was built on a rock 84 meters high. Construction began in the year 708 and evolved over the next 1000 years. It is home to 40 people plus the monks who serve the monastery. The Germans captured the monastery during WWII but did not inhabit it. They left it intact and simply guarded it. It is a very beautiful and picturesque place.