This time it's hello from the D-Day beaches in Normandy. We visited the Memorial Cemetary above Omaha beach early on Easter morning. It was very sobering and inspiring to be in this setting, paticularly on Easter morning. There are few places where the importance of Christ's message of resurrection and peace could be more deeply felt than in this sacred place.

You can just make out a flag pole in the far distance in this shot. The American flag flies proudly there around the clock. As evidence that it's involvement in the war was not for profit or gain, the US asked only that this land be given as a place to bury our dead. France granted this spot of land to the USA in perpetuity.

The grave markers march on as far as can be seen in all directions.

There was a cold wind this day, but no rain and an occassional break in the clouds. Melody is a little short on vitamin D after the winter and she is here making up the deficit as best she can.

Some of the Nazi gun emplacements are still available to walk through and around. Even though familiar with the history, it makes a big difference to actually be there where profound sacrifices were made so that we and others have the freedoms we enjoy.

The scene looks very peacful these days. But one can imagine trying to storm up these cliffs as the American, British, and Canadian troops did that day.

This is part of a great museum in Caen that gives a detailed story of D-Day. This is part of a memorial garden at the museum. The wall contains an inscription from each state in the union. All states lost men during the D-Day conflict.

The French and Germans (plus many others in Europe) also paid a heavy price for freedom. This is a town not far from the beaches as it looked in 1944. Everything has been rebuilt and there is no current evidence in the towns of what happened then.

This is a map of the different units attacking the Germans at Normandy. The battle lines stretched for miles. 100s of thousands of men came in 5,500 ships and many airplanes.

This church is typical of many in the area. It was in the line of fire and partially destroyed, but rebuilt in manner to look much like it did when constructed 800 years or so ago.

We suspect that because the cost of war speaks so loudly of the need for peace, there was an exhibit honoring winners of the Nobel Peace Prize hooked on to the Caen memorial museum. We thought including a picture of this last honoree would be important--especially for some of our brothers who are such great fans of our current president.

On our way home we stayed the night in Reims France. Joan of Arc, on her horse behind Melody is one of the local heroines.

Speed limits in France are quite similar to those in the US. But once back on the Autobahns, it was peddle to the metal. Here is proof that an Opel can move out. As mentioned in an earlier blog, however, this was just creeping along compared to folks roaring by in their BMW's and Mercedes.

This was a great trip for us. We went back to our work renewed and refreshed. Glad you could go along with us for part of this, even if only through a few pictures. More later.