kdrk888 wrote:
Yes, Dan. It's one of the emplacements. We couldn't drive close to the cliff, the tour bus stopped at a parking lot and we took a short walk to to cliff, the craters created by bombs are very visible on the grounds. I wondered what kind of courage the rangers had to have to climb up that cliff while being shot at by machine guns. I had not gone to a movie theater for many years, until Saving Private Ryan was released. The main reason we went to France was to visit the American Cemetery in Normandy. If one is not humbled, and grateful, looking at rows after rows of white tomb stones, there is something wrong with his/her heart. ...Show more →
This might interest you Douglas. I am finding it fascinating in many ways.
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote:
One of the finest, if not FINEST, images of this Memorial EVER Douglas!!!
Dan
Thank you Dan. That's a three shot pano. I tried a 10mm lens once for the same scene, barely wide enough to have the whole fountain in frame, it also made everything look so small and far away. So this time I used a 21mm lens, three shots.
"D Day Through German Eyes" is a great read. Interesting to hear the perspective from the other side in that many of the soldiers seemed just as scared as the landing troops. Several memorable first-hand accounts, well worth the time! If I'm not mistaken there is also a column two.
jcw1982 wrote:
"D Day Through German Eyes" is a great read. Interesting to hear the perspective from the other side in that many of the soldiers seemed just as scared as the landing troops. Several memorable first-hand accounts, well worth the time! If I'm not mistaken there is also a column two.
in 2011 my wife and I went to Paris. We purposefully signed up for a tour of Normandy and after a short train ride from Gare du Nord, arrived at the reception center via tour van. Had a wonderful lunch, served by gracious hosts, each of whom was fluent in, oh, probably a dozen languages (unlike most in the US who can't even speak English, but I digress), took a tour of the reception center area, launched in the Van and began the tour. I'll post some pictures from that extraordinary visit, some of which will include Point du Hoc, taken from the vantage point of the German defenders. And Douglas, I stood in that exact gun emplacement.
Our arrival in Paris was on the 10th anniversary of 911. I have pictures of what the French did to honor our and their sacrifice in the rescue event. Just an amazing experience. I"m not sure my heart has healed yet.
American National Cemetery, burial site for the Niland Brothers, whose deaths according to our Guide served as the seed for the film "Saving Private Ryan."
Reception Center, American National Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
When I asked our Guide why was the German flag being flown, she responded "In death, we are all the same." I had a helluva hard time with that explanation.
I was hoping you caught this thread my brother! I remember the beautiful images you posted awhile ago from the cemeteries in Europe. Great work. Lest we never forget!!
Semper Fi Marine!!
RD
WWII is a good example of how party over country can be SO DANGEROUS to democracy. The fascist party in Italy and Spain and the nazi party in Germany after WWI.
If you read about the average German fighting for his country many were not nazi's and many hated Hitler and the nazi party. But that's what can happen when an autocrat takes power. It usually happens slowly. And then before the population realizes what has happened it is to late. Yes lets all not forget because to forget means it can happen again.
airfrogusmc wrote:
WWII is a good example of how party over country can be SO DANGEROUS to democracy. The fascist party in Italy and Spain and the nazi party in Germany after WWI.
If you read about the average German fighting for his country many were not nazi's and many hated Hitler and the nazi party. But that's what can happen when an autocrat takes power. It usually happens slowly. And then before the population realizes what has happened it is to late. Yes lets all not forget because to forget means it can happen again.
My mother and her parents escaped Facist Italy and came here to America. All but 1 of her sisters(4) and 1 brother all joined the Navy, Army Air Corps and served. Her father, my grandfather, became a shipbuilder in Philly, spoke no English, learned it there and became a hisortic home builder in SE PA.
RD
Danpbphoto wrote:
Just finished watching "Saving PvtRyan" for the umpteenth time!! Very moving!
RD
I must have watched Saving Private Ryan 5 or 6 times. To me, the most moving moment is when the mother collapsed in the kitchen when she saw a military car approaching, sensing something bad had happened to one of her boys. Can you imagine when she was told three of her boys were killed, not one? Every time I watched this moment I teared up. I took a day trip to the D-Day Memorial for the 75th anniversary on the Normandy landing, 21 of the boys from this small town named Bedford, Va were killed on the first day of the landing.
Here is another shot of the WWII Memorial from last year. The second picture was from the D-Day Memorial last year. Hope I am not hijacking Anthony's thread!
Douglas, you are giving far more substance to the thread than I could do by myself. Thank you, Sir, for your exquisite photos and your poignant commentary as well.
anthonysemone wrote:
Douglas, you are giving far more substance to the thread than I could do by myself. Thank you, Sir, for your exquisite photos and your poignant commentary as well.
anthony
I agree with my brother Tony! To me the final few minutes of reflection that Pvt Ryan was having at Capt Miller's grave was very emotional also! The emotion of one's parents or wife seeing a CNO, Casuality Notification Officer, usually 2, approaching a residence is a death in and of itself. My most favorite movie, "We Were Soldiers Once....And Young" is a constant reminder of my participation in those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their Country.
The 2nd image is just fantastic!!!
I look forward to the day we "connect" that was interrupted by the CV-19.
Dan
