quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
If Europe is on your bucket list, I encourage a visit to Normandy. I've been twice and it's sobering.

I wholeheardtedly agree. I visited Normandy on 5 Jun 2015 and it was a humbling experience. Lots of folks there, of course--it was just one day prior to the anniversary of D-Day. While in Europe, one should also visit a few of the American cemeteries. The upkeep is fastidious and the awe is huge.

flashguy

The only American cemetery in UK is located about fifteen miles from where we live in Cambridgeshire.

Madingley is the final resting place of over 4000 US servicemen, mostly aircrew, who never got to go home to the USA. However, the location of the cemetery is the deeded property of the US Government, and you are walking through the entrance, leaving England, and entering the USA. See - https://www.abmc.gov/Cambridge

My namesake, 2nd Lt Thomas J Foley, is commemorated there on the Wall of Remembrance. The whole place is as beautifully cared-for as is humanly possible - a place of great peace and calm.

I go there every year to remember the boys who never got to go home.

My great uncle was there at Ste Mere Eglise on that faithful night as part of the 82nd Airborne 505th PIR D-Company and returned 25 years later for the anniversary of the event. For the 75th anniversary of that event, my son and I went over for his high school graduation gift/pre Army boot camp send off.

Every year this historic event gets less and less coverage. My local news rag had one small article about it on page 7. Disgraceful!

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
If Europe is on your bucket list, I encourage a visit to Normandy. I've been twice and it's sobering.

I wholeheardtedly agree. I visited Normandy on 5 Jun 2015 and it was a humbling experience. Lots of folks there, of course--it was just one day prior to the anniversary of D-Day. While in Europe, one should also visit a few of the American cemeteries. The upkeep is fastidious and the awe is huge.

flashguy

Very true! I visited a number of the cemeteries while I was stationed in Germany, including a couple in France and England.

We have had plenty of differences and disputes with the French, but what is not in dispute is that they do a wonderful job of honoring our war dead.