We were there in 2000. My eldest son got to participate in the lowering of the flag that evening. It is such a breathtakingly beautiful place! The way they put sand from the beach in the engraved name on the cross when family visits is incredible, too.
Looking at those bunkers that still dot the beach, I just kept thinking, "How did we beat these guys?" We went home and watched "The Longest Day" over and over.
I found the French people in Normandy to be the most friendly and welcoming that we encountered in France. There were several people that went out of their way to express their gratitude to the Allied Troops for freeing them from German rule. They, at least, get it.
My sisters, nieces, girlfriend & I, along w/ quite a group of friends, accompanied my Uncle back to Normandie in 2004 for the 60th Anniversary celebration. Our experience was similar, luv2ski - the locals were wonderful to us.
Speaking of bunkers... we were checking out one of the bunkers above Omaha & met 2 Rangers who had taken out that particular bunker some 60 years ago, when who should walk up but 2 German soldiers who had manned that bunker, and escaped just prior to it being blown. Not a dry eye in the immediate vicinity when the 4 men met, shook hands, then hugged! All the men had family with them, down to great-grand kids, so we were able to see 'the potential' that DeSimone wrote so eloquently about in that article.
I found the French people in Normandy to be the most friendly and welcoming that we encountered in France. There were several people that went out of their way to express their gratitude to the Allied Troops for freeing them from German rule.