June 6: D-Day—81 Years Later, Honoring Sacrifice on Normandy’s Sacred Shores

June 6: D-Day—81 Years Later, Honoring Sacrifice on Normandy’s Sacred Shores


Today, on the 81st anniversary of D-Day, we traveled through the heart of Normandy to walk in the footsteps of heroes and remember the immense sacrifices made here. The day began with a morning bus ride from Caudebec, including a brief stop at a local rest area—where I picked up a small illustrated book, D DAY and the Battle of Normandy, a fitting companion for today’s journey[1]. We also were given onboard the book Normandy War Cemeteries by Nigel Stewart (our historian/speaker on the cruise). 

As we continued, we passed the city of Caen, glimpsing its skyline and the towers of the church where William the Conqueror is buried—reminders of Normandy’s deep and layered history. The towns near the beaches were filled with US and French flags and signs/flags honoring the sacrifices during WWII. And as we got close, there were many WWII vehicles and reenactors dressed in WWII uniforms.








Pointe du Hoc: Courage on the Cliffs

Our first major stop was Pointe du Hoc, the dramatic cliffside stronghold between Utah and Omaha Beaches. Here, we explored the German cannon bunkers and anti-aircraft positions, still scarred by the fierce fighting of June 6, 1944[5][11]. The site remains much as it was left after the battle, with massive bomb craters and battered concrete bunkers. We paused at the Rangers plaque, honoring the extraordinary bravery of Lt. Col. Rudder and his 2nd Ranger Battalion, who scaled the cliffs under fire to neutralize the German artillery[6][11]. 

While we stood among these historic ruins, we witnessed two flyovers of four C-130s each—a stirring tribute that brought the events of 81 years ago vividly to life.








Looking out to Juno Beach







The view from the German Bunker

Looking toward Omaha Beach

Memorial

The Point of Pointe-Du-Hoc


German Anti Aircraft gun.




Omaha Beach Country Club: A Moment to Reflect

From Pointe du Hoc, we traveled to the Omaha Beach Country Club for lunch—a chance to rest, reflect, and prepare for the emotional afternoon ahead.














Each of the holes named for WWII heroes, Eisenhower, Churchill, Patton, Montgomery... 







Normandy American Cemetery: Remembrance and Reverence

Our next stop was the Normandy American Cemetery, overlooking Omaha Beach. Here, we visited the Mémorial du cimetière Américain, the Garden of the Missing, and the serene Cemetery Chapel. Walking among the rows of white crosses and Stars of David, we paid our respects to thousands of American servicemen and women who gave their lives for freedom.

We visited the graves of several notable individuals, including Medal of Honor recipient Theodore Roosevelt Jr., who is buried beside his brother Quentin, a World War I aviator[7]. We also stopped at the grave of General Leslie J. McNair, the highest-ranking officer buried here and namesake of Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C.[8]. Toni laid poppies at the headstones of soldiers from Maryland and Ohio, as well as at the graves of several unknown soldiers—a small gesture of gratitude and remembrance.






















The chapel





General McNair

Looking down to the beach from the cemetery


An Ohio Hero



Unknown but honored




A Maryland Hero

The Garden of the Missing

Names of all the missing


Omaha Beach: Ceremony and Sacred Sand

The day’s most moving moment came at the Omaha Beach Memorial Monument. All three buses from our ship gathered for a special ceremony, which included the playing of the national anthem, a reading, and the solemn notes of “Taps”—a tradition that echoes across these sands each year[9][10]. We then had time to walk the beach itself, reflecting on the courage and sacrifice that took place here, and feeling the weight of history beneath our feet.


























Evening: Return and Remembrance

After a long drive back (with plenty of post-ceremony traffic), we returned to the ship. The evening offered a chance to process the day’s experiences with Happy Hour, a history talk, dinner, and entertainment onboard. The crew also gave a rose to each cabin.













Today was a day of deep emotion and gratitude—a reminder of the cost of freedom and the enduring legacy of those who fought here. We will never forget.





Citations:
[1] selected_image_5447468121828934778.jpg https://pplx-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/v1749196706/user_uploads/42214127/1e181f0b-8b95-46aa-b259-19c98efc8803/selected_image_5447468121828934778.jpg
[2] Avalon-Invoice.pdf https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/collection_43365fc2-90ed-486e-a2a1-0e75af679944/f2f19f5a-ed12-47ce-b715-f42add91bbd3/Avalon-Invoice.pdf
[3] Paris-to-Normandy-WWII-Remembrance-History-Cruise-Avalon-Waterways-r-History-Cruise.pdf https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/collection_43365fc2-90ed-486e-a2a1-0e75af679944/55a6be25-a6b0-4975-8faa-a7be95de5de2/Paris-to-Normandy-WWII-Remembrance-History-Cruise-Avalon-Waterways-r-History-Cruise.pdf
[4] Europe-Express.pdf https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/collection_43365fc2-90ed-486e-a2a1-0e75af679944/29e75502-3dd6-4c7a-a878-321e69380d2a/Europe-Express.pdf
[5] Assault at Pointe du Hoc - Battle of Normandy Tours https://www.battleofnormandytours.com/assault-at-pointe-du-hoc.html
[6] Pointe du Hoc World War II Memorial https://www.clementscenter.org/pointe-du-hoc-world-war-ii-memorial/
[7] Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Jr.
[8] Lesley J. McNair - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_J._McNair
[9] Les Braves II: At Water's Edge - The War Memorial https://www.warmemorial.org/lesbraves
[10] D-Day Trumpet returns to Normandy Beaches - Taps Bugler https://www.tapsbugler.com/d-day-trumpet-returns-to-normandy-beaches/
[11] Pointe du Hoc - Liberation Route Europe https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/287/pointe-du-hoc
[12] Pointe du Hoc - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_du_Hoc
[13] Batterie Pointe du Hoc | Normandy | JWT Research - Jersey War Tours https://www.jerseybunkertours.com/batterie-pointe-du-hoc
[14] Visiting Pointe du Hoc, Site of World War II D-Day Battle - https://exploringrworld.com/visiting-pointe-du-hoc-site-of-world-war-ii-d-day-battle/




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