NORMANDY, France

Bryant and I have taken the children to Normandy, France before. Baguettes and carousels, aside, Normandy and its WWII beaches, is sacred ground.

Our first visit, years ago, we were careful how we introduced our young children to the atrocities of war. We prepared appropriately for that visit.

But our children have matured in the past few years. We prepared much differently for this summer’s visit, and approached the D-Day sites differently, as well.

Here is a list of the things that our family would consider “musts” while visiting Normandy:

AMERICAN MILITARY CEMETERY, in Colleville-sur-Mer. This year, with older children, we did not skip the free museum near the entrance. Sobering. Inspiring.

And we arranged to be at the cemetery at 5:35pm for Taps. It was absolutely moving. The children felt something of the sacred – oh, how we prayed that the children would feel something of the sacred! And they asked to return for Taps the following evening.

GERMAN CEMETERY. Over 21,000 German soldiers were buried in the German Cemetery at La Cambe, and 80% of those soldiers were under 20 years of age. We looked at the headstones. We talked about the individuals – especially the young. What were their stories? Who had they left behind in Germany? What feelings of loyalty or fear lead them to war?

At the entrance to the beautiful cemetery, a stone marker was erected by the French:

The German Cemetery at La Cambe … with its melancholy rigour, is a graveyard for soldiers not all of whom had chosen either the cause or the fight. They too have found rest in our soil of France.

MUSEUM AT CAEN. Incredible. Probably the most comprehensive museum we visited in Normandy.

POINTE DU HOC was a great place for children and adults alike, to explore! The bomb-scarred land was surprisingly beautiful, and the bunkers were open to us.

On D-Day, US Army Rangers scaled the 100 foot cliffs here, between Utah and Omaha Beaches, in what was supposed to be a surprise attack on a German artillery. 225 Rangers attacked, and, after two days, took possession of Pointe du Hoc, with only 90 Rangers left fighting. 

OTHER SITES. Pegasus Bridge, Gold Beach and Churchill’s floating roadways. Crazy fascinating! Google it. Sword and Juno Beaches, Utah Beach, and what became known as “Bloody Omaha”.

The children memorized the names of the five beaches, and a few other statistics we thought were significant, starting with the date – 6 June 1944.

So many tragedies:

7 million pounds of bombs dropped
156,000 allied troops landed in Normandy
2,499 American casualties on Omaha Beach, alone
320,000 German casualties in Normandy
135,000 American casualties in Normandy
65,000 British casualties in Normandy
18,000 Canadian casualties in Normandy
12,200 French civilians killed in the fighting
200,000 German POW captured
41 sets of brothers are buried in the American Cemetery

But there were also so many miracles!

Earlier this year, when we took a tour through the 9/11 Memorial Museum in NYC, I was impressed by the tour guide, who, herself, was once an employee at the World Trade Center. She made a point to remind us that, though there were many tragedies that dreadful day in 2001, there were also miracles! More lives saved than lost, she said. More stories of heroism than of cowardice. More helpers than hurters. More that be with us than that be against us.

During our visit to Normandy this summer, I felt similar feelings. I saw more of the miracles than I had seen before, and experienced more of the peace offered. I felt more gratitude and experienced so much more awe.

Instead of fear, we preached courage to our children. Instead of despair, respectful mourning, and renewed resolve.