Fourth Form of Madness

We started our D-Day journey at Omaha Beach. As I looked out across the sea it was easy to image the allied troops landing and coming into the open beaches to be met by hostile fire. There was a cold wind blowing and it added to the sombre ambience of the place. I was surprised how overcome with sadness I quickly became. All those young men on both sides that died. Tragic for everyone involved.

Next we went driving in some random field along some winding goat track because the sat nav said to. It did lead us straight to the edge of the cliffs, which whilst very dangerous as they are a shear drop down, are also very beautiful. We carefully navigated our way back to the main road and back to La Pointe du Hoc, where the rangers climbed up the cliffs and took control of this pivotal German stronghold on 6 June 1944. There were 225 when they began, 90 when they were finished. Through drop point errors, discovery of their mission and hostile fire they persevered on, climbing up ropes they threw up the cliff faces. When one of them fell, another was right behind them to carrying on their plight. Standing at the top looking down the sheer cliff face, I was overcome with emotion and respect for these beings. These young men showed true courage. In the world now there is a fair amount of anti-amercian feelings being expressed but standing there looking down that cliff, I for one was very glad for the Americans and that they willingly gave us so many of their sons to help win the second world war. Truly god bless America.

After an hour of searching (I’m not the best navigator) we arrived at the American Military Cemetery at Omaha beach. White cross after white cross after white cross. In silence, we walked through the crosses and stars of david. I wondered what I would have done if I was born into that time and had a son or a husband that was going to go to France and fight a war. How did these families stand the suffering and loss?

On we drove to Mont-St-Michel, a benedictine monastery building on an island just off the mainland. As we were getting close, it suddenly appeared on the horizon. It appears to hover off the coast and is beyond beautiful. When I was in grade 3 I won a citizenship award and the prize was a wonders of the world book, Mont-St-Michel was in it. I have been keen to see it since then. As it was late afternoon we booked ourselves into LeRelais du Roy within a stone’s throw of St Michel. It is a rather comfortable converted french hotel. I can’t wait to go exploring St Michael tomorrow!