Day 17 - Omaha Beach France

Today was the most rewarding day so far. We left Paris and traveled to Omaha Beach. When we arrived in the small town of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer we were greeted by the mayor. We also got to participate in a flag raising ceremony on the beach. The mayor read a lovely speech (yes the tears flowed freely). Afterward, 16 of our students went to raise the flags of the countries involved in the war. While raising each flag, the country's national anthem played. There were a lot of people crying when it was all said and done.

After the flag raising ceremony, each of us was given a small glass bottle to fill with sand from the beach and bring home.

After Omaha Beach we went to the Normandy American Cemetery, which is the last resting place of over 9,000 young soldiers who were killed in 1944 during the Battle of Normandy.

Next was Caen, the capital of Normandy. We visited the Memorial Museum, whose mission is to remember the operation of the 6th of June 1944, the causes of the 1939-45 conflict, and its multiple consequences.

Lastly, we departed Caen for our overnight ferry. Tomorrow - England!