Beattys Overseas

We visited the War Memorial Museum in Caen on Sunday afternoon, which provided a very intense backstory on World War II.  For us, it was an excellent 'refresher course' in our elementary history of the exact beginning of Germany's rise and the incredible formation of the Allied forces. 

Driving out of Caen and toward Arramonches, a tiny town on the Normandy coast which is the site of the British invasion on D-Day, we were charmed by the rural and rustic nature of the area.  It seems that every other property is a dairy or a chicken farm.  It's hard to imagine a war happening in a place so peaceful.  

The next morning we headed to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.  A truly potent place, it's located on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the landing beaches of the Normandy D-Day Invasion) on the English Channel.  We separated and wandered through the marble gravestones, some which were adorned with flowers or letters.  Not until you are here is the impact so strong.  Over 9,000 servicemen and women (less than 50 women, actually) are buried on this ground, which is considered American soil.  France has granted the United States a special, perpetual concession to the land occupied by the cemetery, officially making it United States soil.  It's a very powerful and emotional experience, and we recommend it to everyone.  

- Whitney