Sights in Normandy—Pictures from 2 D Day Anniversary Trips
By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
www.dreamdestinations.com
75 years ago today, the Allies invaded France in the Normandy region to start the defeat of Germany. We have been lucky to lead 2 Anniversary Trips (the 70th and 75th) to Normandy.
I could tell about the massive effort to assemble and train the invading force, the detailed planning and super human effort of the soldiers involved, but perhaps we should see the results of their sweat, blood, sacrifice of these soldiers by looking at Normandy in two Anniversary Celebrations from some of our pictures. Normandy is free today and they have never forgot the cost to make them free.
The soldier’s deeds on that day allowed Normandy to be reborn. In Europe, the best concentration of museums, memorials and preserved sites from WW II are in Normandy. When you add in the re-enactors and equipment displays, it is almost overwhelming how good this festival celebration is—I can’t tell how much I recommend a trip here.
The other part of this is a question we are often asked--why go back a second time or more on a trip or river cruise in Europe?—I think our pictures will show you how easy it is to really miss an important aspect of a site or experience and why we keep returning to learn and see more.
So, let’s take a journey through our pictures of 5 years past and this year’s celebration to see a festival that no one will forget!
Churchill War Rooms
Churchill War Rooms 2014
Imperial War Museum
15 Inch Battleship Cannons outside the Imperial War Museum
WW I Artillery Cannon Imperial War Museum
Caen Memorial Museum
Souvenir Euro from our visit to Caen Memorial Museum—a gift from Mark Thomas
Dummy Paratrooper dropped during D Day Invasion in the Caen Memorial Museum 2019
American Cemetery
American Cemetery 2014
Big Red One (1st Infantry) D Day Soldier who landed in 1944—the Big Red One was my first unit in my military service
Mont St, Michel
Mont Ste. Michel 2019
Arromanches
D Day Portable Bridge 2019
D Day 75 Garden—look closely, you can see part of Port Winston in the background 2019
Peace Tank Arromanches 2019
Floating Tank outside the D Day Landing Museum 2019
Longues-sur-Mer Coastal Gun Battery
2014 Coastal Artillery Gun
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach Monument 2014
29th Memorial was built over this actual bunker on Omaha Beach 2019
Omaha Beach 2014
Omaha Beach 2019
Omaha Beach 2019
Pointe du Hoc
Pointe du Hoc 2014
Point du Hoc Ranger Bayonet Monument 2014
Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument 2019
Pointe du Hoc Gun Bunker 2019
Utah Beach
Utah Beach 2019
Lester Holt and Hank Utah Beach 2019—the Utah Beach Museum is in the bacjground
Ste. Mere Eglise Airborne Museum
Airborne Museum 2014
Airborne Museum 2019
Airborne Museum 2019
Ladies of our D Day Tour 2014
Gents of our 2014 D Day Tour
Part of Our 2019 D Day Tour Group
Ste. Mere Eglise
Ste. Mere Eglise 2014
Re-enactors 2014
Lady reenactors with col. (ret) Joe Frankie 2019
Male re-enactors 2019
My Final Thoughts
Wow—an unmatched experience in my opinion! This quick over view does not really do each stop justice, so later this year I will write and provide pictures about some of these stops in detail. Thanks for reading and thanks to the 33 folks we led—it was awesome!
We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise experts, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.
When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.
Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent
