MT native Loc: Big Sky Country — Montana

Thank you for your wonderful series !! Your 2nd and 3rd images really are incredible !! Great composition and lighting. I too have been to the beaches of Normandy. What a sacred place to honor those fallen soldiers.

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

Also Viva la USA and Britain! There would be no France is not for them. In fact Europe would not exist!

Gregger Loc: Phoenix area

Beautiful! Thank you for posting and allowing all to see.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

Yes.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

(and oranges)

What does that mean?

Dennis

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

Thank you for this set, very much appreciated and enjoyed.

Phil

agillot

was just wondering , there is also a large German cemetery there , who take care of it , and as anybody been there .no memorial service there ?

gasstro Loc: Indiana

Wonderful images, must have been a thrill to be there in person!

John from gpwmi Loc: Michigan

Excellently photographed and so meaningful. Thanks

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Very nice work - thanks for sharing!

Silke Loc: Germany

The German war graves are as well cared for as any others around. The locals, and many of us immigrants, make sure of it. :)
We mustn't forget that those German soldiers also gave their lives for their country. It shouldn't matter which country someone gave their life for, really. They deserve to be remembered too.
My grandfather was one of those German soldiers. He didn't want to go, didn't believe in the regime at all, but there was no choice. He was drafted, and it was go and fight, or be executed as a traitor. At least by going to war, there was a slight chance of survival. He was sent to the Eastern Front, and was taken prisoner there in 42/43, half starved, frozen and ill. He spent 3 years as a Russian prisoner, doing forced labor. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

In the meantime, my grandmother was staying on her parents farm, and as they were turning hay one afternoon, they spotted a parachute, after seeing an aircraft being shot down. So everyone ran to the other field, where a Brit had just dropped after ejecting from his downed plane. I'm pretty sure the poor guy thought he'd just survived being shot down...only to meet his maker at the end of a German pitchfork.
But...nope.
They dragged him out of the field, explained with hands and feet that he is a "deaf-mute", dusted him off, supplied him with farmer's clothes...and took him down the pub for a fortifying beer. Telling people he's a distant cousin who is shell-shocked.
He was on the farm, hidden in plain view, for 2.5 years, before they managed to smuggle him out.
He also wasn't the only "shell-shocked, deaf-mute, distant cousin" in the area...
She told me they had no idea how bad things really were, until the liberation. They only knew it's not a good idea to make anti-Hitler noises, because people tended to disappear. There was a lot of fear around, no one dared say anything or ask questions.
So yeah... Don't think that the German soldiers were any less brave, or heroic, just because they were on the other side. They were good men, forced to do things they didn't want to do. They went through the same hell -- if not more so -- as the allies. They lived in constant fear of being shot for insubordination, on top of everything. If you questioned your orders... chances were you didn't survive it.

jerrydownunder Loc: Newcastle, NSW Australia

I too was in Normandy for the week of June 6th. While security on the 6th was quite high, I don't think it lessened the celebrations at any of the locations. Both President Trump and Macron gave very good speeches, full of praise and thanks and without political tone. It was awesome to be at the American Cemetery, one of about 12,000 attendees at that special event. The town of Sainte-Mère-Église was crazy fun, very festive. All in all, a wonderful week in a beautiful country. I will go back on D-Day again, just not on a 5 year anniversary when the pomp and circumstance is a bit over the top. I shot over 1,000 frames and still mulling through them.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Very nice images; thank you for sharing them.