Frankie's Footprints

One Man's Visual Prayer for Global Solidarity & Peace.

Normandy D-Day Sites

In October 2013, I had the privilege of paying my respects at many of the D-day sites and memorials in Normandy, France…

Only by being there did I begin to appreciate the scale, audacity, and horror of that fateful enterprise launched on the morning of June 6, 1944. Standing on such hallowed ground where so many gave so much moved me to tears of grief, gratitude, anger, humility, and emotions I am unable to put into words. I hope that this photo essay does justice to these sentiments as it recognizes and remembers the uncommon courage and ultimate sacrifice of those who fought there.

Before viewing the photographs below, please take a few minutes to read three of Ernie Pyle’s gut-wrenching and heartbreaking observations after he landed in Normandy a few days after the invasion:

  1. A Pure Miracle (June 12, 1944)
  2. The Horrible Waste (June 16, 1944)
  3. A Long Thin Line (June 17 ,1944)
The German Gun Batteries at Longues Sur Mer are battle-scared, but remain largely intact.
Enter a bunker and try to imagine the shock, disbelief, and terror of the German soldiers seeing the approaching Armada.

Point du Hoc. Where American Army Rangers scaled the treacherous cliffs under fire….
… in order to overtake the heavily fortified gun emplacements.
Arromanches. Code named Gold Beach, and home to the artificial harbor christened Port Winston, remnants of which remain to this day.
The Arromanche360 museum immerses you in the chaos and terror of the invasion in sound and image.
The church steeple and memorial to paratrooper John Steele in Saint Mere Eglise
American Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer. Countless crosses (and a few stars of David)
Many nameless
British Commonwealth Cemetery in Bayeux
Make sure to read the inscriptions.
but be prepared to “lose it”
German Cemetery at La Cambe.
A reminder that there were victims on both sides of the war
The Omaha Beach memorial museum preserves the history of and houses important artifacts from the invasion.
The gut-wrenching, first-hand accounts of the veterans are particularly worth your time and attention.
Paying my respects as I wept on Omaha Beach
Some precious artifacts: Sand from Omaha Beach, British Razor, German land mine flag, Canadian machine gun shell, American Bandage, German Dog Tag from a fallen soldier.