Tag Archives: Chaput foot prints

France

Amiens, France

We went to a beautiful medieval city in Northern France called Amiens. We were dropped off by our tour bus near the Gothic Cathedral.

Gothic 13th-century Cathedral in Amiens, France

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens is a 13th-century Gothic style Cathedral. It is the largest Cathedral in France and is a world heritage site.

Ornate arch above the main entrance to the Cathedral
Ornate design on Cathedral

We went to the main entrance and were amazed at the number of figures on the arch. Each one was unique and was made in great detail.

We went inside and check out the massive interior of the Cathedral.

Inside the Amiens Cathedral

The Cathedral was very impressive not only because of the size but also the beautiful decorations and stained glass windows.

The Altar in the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens
Stained glass inside the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens

After seeing the cathedral, we went for a walk in the old quarter of Amiens. What is an interesting feature is the city is divided by the Somme River. Shops and cafes line the narrow street along the Somme River.

Cafes and shops along the Somme River in Amiens, France

We walked along the Somme river for a while and then stopped to enjoy a relaxing drink before exploring more of the city.

Ray, Shelley, Jim, and Anne enjoying a drink in Amiens, France

We walked along the narrow streets in the old quarter admiring the unique features of buildings.

View across the Somme River in Amiens.

While walking through the streets of Amiens we came across a group of Canadian cyclist wearing Canadian markings on their shirts.  We decided to stop and ask them about their shirts.

Cyclist wearing Canadian shirts in Amiens

They explained that they were cycling “the 2017 Vimy 100 Battlefield Bike Ride” which goes across a section of Europe touring WWII sites. They were raising money for the Wounded Warriors Canada charity. We had a nice chat with some of the cyclist, which were retired military personnel or spouses of Military personnel.

It made us very proud to be Canadian and to have the opportunity to speak to these veterans of our Canadian Military.

We then walked back to the park near the Cathedral before ending our time in Amiens.

Ray and Shelley in the park near the Cathedral in Amiens

We enjoyed our time in Amiens and chatting with some Canadian Veterans.

“Au revoir et bonne journée”

France

The Bény-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery

After viewing the American cemetery, we went to the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.

The parking lot of the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.

We walked onto the grounds of the cemetery which were immaculately kept.

There were red flowers between each tombstone. The sight of all the Canadian soldiers who died to protect freedom was a very moving event for us.

Flowers among the grave markers in the Canadian War Cemetery.
The Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.

We walked through the cemetery looking at the individual tombstones and saw something quite interesting. Placed on some of the tombstones, were coins or other small tokens. These small tokens or coins are left by visitors to indicate that someone has visited that particular grave.

Coin and Canadian Flag pin left on grave marker of Canadian soldier

We saw lots of the grave markers with coins or other small tokens. That was something that drew out raw emotions from us and touched our hearts deeply.

In the center of the cemetery, there was the cross of sacrifice monument.

The cross of sacrifice at the Canadian War Cemetery France

We walked through the cemetery and read some of the names of fallen soldiers. The age of the soldier was inscribed on the grave marker.

We were saddened by the number of soldiers who were in their late teens or early twenties. So many young soldiers sacrificed their lives for freedom.

Going to the Canadian War Cemetery was very moving and emotional. It was something that will stay with us throughout our lives.

“Au revoir et bonne journée”

France

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

After visiting Omaha Beach we went to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. The entrance is a simple walkway that leads into an oval walled area that is known as the walls of the missing.

The wall of the missing has a total os 1,557 American soldiers names inscribed on them.  If a soldier’s body has since been located they put a rosette beside their name on the wall.

Wall of the Missing in Normandy American Cemetery

We walked along the wall reading some of the many names inscribed on it.

Wall of the Missing leading to the semicircular section of the cemetery

We eventually walked to a semi-circular stairs with pillars that led us to an upper area. We went up the stairs to an area with a large statue.

Statue in a semi-circular pillared area

From this area, we could see the main section of the cemetery.

We were immediately struck by the beauty, and size of the cemetery. The cemetery was a lot larger that we expected it covered 172.5 acres.

We walked through the cemetery looking at the crosses and reading the names of some of the soldiers that died on D-Day. The cemetery contains the graves of 9,387 soldiers, most of whom died during the D-Day landings.

American Cemetery in Normandy
The view from the rear of the cemetery.

It was a surreal and an emotional walk through the cemetery. Looking back towards the main entrance the view was awe-inspiring in a sad kind of way.

“Au revoir et passe une bonne journée”

France

Omaha Beach, Normandy

We arrived at Omaha Beach in France and was surprised at just how beautiful a beach it was. There were families playing on the sand and swimmers in the water enjoying a nice sunny day.

It was hard to imagine the horrific event that took place. We were moved by the sheer magnitude of the beach and the battles that would have taken place here on June 6, 1944. The beach is very long and wide which would have been a tremendous challenge for the Allies to advance.

Shelley on Omaha Beach in Normandy

The beach would have been full of barbed wire and other obstacles that would impede the progress of the Allies. Beyond the beach is the hilltop where the Germans were dug in and reinforced, which gave them the advantage.

Hills at the edge of Omaha Beach in Normandy

We walked the beach for a while before heading to the monument.

Shelley and Ray on Omaha Beach in front of the monument

The monument was a simple stone structure which arched towards the hills away from the beach.

Omaha Beach monument

On the face of the monument is inscribed the following.

“The Allied Forces Landing on this shore which they call Omaha Beach liberated Europe -June 6th 1944″

Inscription on the Omaha Beach monument

There was also a monument installed for the 60th anniversary of D-Day in June 2004. The Monument was called “Les Braves” and was commissioned by the French Government. It is said that the monument represents “Wings of hope” “the Rise of freedom” and “the wings of fraternity.”

60th anniversary of D-Day Monument on Omaha Beach

The experience of walking on Omaha Beach was surreal. It was an experience that will stay with us forever.

“Au revoir et passe une bonne journée”

France

The Bunkers and Guns of Pointe du Hoc

Before heading down to see the Omaha and Juno beaches, we went to a cliff area on a point of land called “Pointe du Hoc”. The point overlooks both the Omaha and Utah Beaches.  We walked along a trail that brought us to the Pointe du Hoc. There on the cliff was the remains of fortified bunkers and lookouts built by the Germans.

Trail leading to the point

This point of land high on the cliffs provided the Germans an excellent vantage point to see Allies advance in the Atlantic.

View of the Omaha Beach from the cliffs area

The ground on the point was heavily damaged with craters caused by the bombings from the Allies during the D-Day operations. It was amazing to see just how big the craters were from the bombs.

Craters caused by bombing during the D-Day operations

It was a moving experience walking through the area, imagining what had transpired on June 6, 1944, when US Army Rangers scaled the 90-foot cliffs to capture this strategic and well-defended point of land. In total, a 150 US Rangers reached the top and seized their objective against machine guns and grenades. The US Rangers then had to fight to defend their position against repeated counter-attacks by the Germans.  It took two days for reinforcements to arrive on June 8th. and during that time 60 Rangers had perished defending their position. This heroic act helped to provide the needed foothold for the allied forces. This became the start of the liberation of France.

Ray in front of a damaged Machine gun bunker

We walked through some of the old bunkers and could easily see the damage caused by bombs and gunfire.

Ray at one of the 155MM heavy Gun platforms on Pointe du Hoc, France

We went to explore one of the main fortified bunkers on the Pointe du Hoc. The bunker had only one entrance/exit from the complex and it was strategically designed to be impenetrable.

Ray on the stairs to the only entrance to the German bunker

Once at the entrance landing,  there was a hallway immediately to the left of the door with a machine gun post in a small opening. There was also a machine gun post at the base of the stair that could shoot the lower area of any advancing soldiers.

Machine gun opening near the main entrance to the bunker

Anyone trying to gain entry would have been shot before getting to the reinforced door of the bunker.

Shelley looking into one of the machine gun posts of the bunker
Ray at the entrance area of the bunker, Bullet holes in the concrete can be seen at the entrance.

We went inside a fortified bunker system and were immediately struck by the sheer size of the complex. There were rooms for ammunition, rooms for personnel and other rooms for communications etc.

Communications room in the bunker system

We walked through the bunker in a quiet and somber manner. There was a plaque located on the wall inside the entrance that listed the US Rangers who died trying to secure the Pointe du Hoc.

Plaque on wall of the US Rangers who died trying to secure the Pointe de Hoc.
US Rangers plaque at Pointe du Hoc, France

We went through different rooms in the bunker and imagined what had transpired on D-Day. It is not hard to imagine what happened to the bunker when it was attacked. The ceiling throughout the entire bunker system was burnt. We can only imagine that flamethrowers were used against the bunker.

The view from inside one of the gun slots in the bunker

Once we finished exploring the bunker we walked around the outside of the bunker. There was a series of trenches and other machine gun bunkers all along the cliffs.

The view of the gun slots in the bunker that rained terror on Allied ships and personnel advance on the beaches of Normandy.

Gun slots in the bunker at Pointe du Hoc, France
Machine gun bunker damaged by artillery
Section of trench system at Pointe du Hoc, France

We spend several hours walking around the bunker system and exploring this historic battle site of WWII. It was an emotional and amazing experience, all at the time.

“Au revoir et passez un bon jour”