Only two more - I promise!

Now that things have calmed down a bit again on the home front, it's time to finish up the France trip.

The last two cemeteries we visited in Normandy were at Beny-Sur-Mer and Omaha Beach. The first one was the Canadian, Juno Beach cemetery. It was another beautiful, immaculate cemetery.



These words are found in every Commonwealth cemetery.
There is restoration program in process as many of the headstones are deteriorating.



Someone had left these coins behind in this shape.
I sat and read the cemetery registry for quite awhile. A German visitor had written: "I am sorry. All I can offer are my tears". It was a very moving sentiment.
Before visiting the Omaha cemetery, we spent an hour or so at Omaha beach. It is a huge and beautiful beach. "This beach is now known as “Bloody Omaha” because of the 2,200 casualties suffered by the American troops who landed here on D-Day. High cliffs and strong German defenses made this a formidable objective. Despite heavy losses, by the end of 6 June the US 1st and 29th Divisions, and the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions, had gained a foothold at Omaha."
I should mention that remnants of the war are still being found on these beaches to this day.


The cemetery at Omaha beach.

My sister, Jean, found this marker. Our grandfather was George Gowanlock. This spelling is different but the name would likely be pronounced the same way as our grandpa's. Kinda interesting...