In the first part of this journey, we explored the rich wartime history preserved throughout London, from the haunting quiet of Churchill’s War Rooms to the powerful exhibits at the Imperial War Museum. The group walked through places where strategies were crafted and leaders made world-altering decisions. After experiencing the cultural and historical vibrancy of the United Kingdom, we boarded a ferry from Portsmouth and began our symbolic channel crossing to the beaches of Normandy. There, we continued our path in the footsteps of American soldiers who braved one of the most pivotal operations of World War II. On June 6, 1944, D-Day, over 156,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline. While thousands stormed the beaches under relentless fire, more than 13,000 American paratroopers had already dropped behind enemy lines that night, tasked with disrupting German defenses and securing vital roads and bridges.

Crossing the English Channel by ferry and landing in Caen is a calm and scenic experience, a stark contrast to what thousands of American soldiers faced on June 6, 1944. While our group arrived safely in daylight with modern conveniences, it was hard not to think about the fear and uncertainty those young men must have felt as they approached the same shores under the cover of darkness, surrounded by the roar of gunfire and crashing waves. Though different in every practical way, stepping off the ferry in France allowed us to connect with their journey into occupied territory.

Our first destination in Normandy was the small town of Saint-Mère-Église, a place of great historical significance. On D-Day, this quiet village was the first to be liberated by American forces. Located just inland from Utah Beach, it was a key target for paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, who aimed to secure the town to prevent German counterattacks on the beaches. Paratroopers began landing near the town shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944. Walking through its streets today, it’s hard to imagine the chaos of that night, but the town’s reverence for history and respect for the liberating soldiers ensure that the memory of those events remains vivid.

A short distance west of town is La Fière Bridge, the site of one of the most intense battles fought by American paratroopers in the days following the landing. The group had the opportunity to walk to the bridge and visit the memorial and statues raised to commemorate and honor the soldiers who fought there. Control of the bridge was vital; it spanned a strategic causeway over flooded fields that the Germans used to slow the Allied advance. Fierce fighting occurred here over several days (June 6-9, 1944) as the 82nd Airborne held the line.

The German forces had intentionally flooded the Merderet River valley to delay and encumber our troops, turning the fields into a swampy death trap. Today, the expansive fields appear picturesque, making it hard to imagine the struggles the soldiers faced while traversing and defending the region. The memorial statues stand guard over the bridge and surrounding countryside, honoring the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought to keep the road open for reinforcements. The two memorials are “Iron Mike” standing tall, honoring American paratroopers, and a set of four statues of walking paratroopers memorializing the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which suffered heavy casualties securing the bridge.

Back in Saint Mère Église, one story continues to capture imaginations and hearts: the tale of Private John Steele, whose parachute caught on the church steeple during the early hours of the invasion. He hung there for hours, playing dead to avoid German fire, and survived the ordeal. Part of the story includes two German soldiers who noticed him and shot him in the foot to see if he was alive. After confirming that Steele lived, they discussed what to do with him. Part of the conversation included the fact that he was on holy ground and should therefore not be killed. Steele ended up being taken prisoner and later escaped. Today, a full-scale model of a paratrooper remains suspended from that very steeple, a constant reminder of the town’s place in history. It is not merely a display, but a symbol of the community’s deep connection to the events of D-Day and their gratitude to the liberators. A festival is held in town when the model needs to be maintained.

Across the square stands the Airborne Museum, one of the most immersive and moving experiences of the trip for me. Exhibits include authentic gear, vehicles, and personal accounts that bring the stories of the airborne soldiers to life. Stepping into the recreated gliders and examining the carefully preserved artifacts, it’s easy to feel the weight of history. The museum does more than educate—it honors. While walking through the life-size dioramas, I had the chance to stand face-to-face with a life-size
statue of a soldier.

I was face-to-face with Maxwell D. Taylor, born in Missouri, who graduated from West Point in 1922 and was the Chief of Staff of the 82nd Infantry Division in February 1942. Taylor was appointed Commander in Chief of the 101st Airborne Division in March 1944 and jumped over Normandy, earning his second star of Major General. Getting the chance to look one of our soldiers in the eyes through his statue made the history so much more real and relatable. It was the first time I connected emotionally with a soldier from a time before I was born. The history I was learning about was no longer a far removed event in a textbook; it was human. Each display serves as a tribute to the men who parachuted into darkness, facing overwhelming odds for the promise of liberation.

Our visit continued to the beaches themselves—Utah and Omaha—the names forever etched into the story of the war. Utah Beach, where American troops faced lighter resistance, saw the success of well-coordinated landings. The group got a chance to board one of the landing vessels and experience how cramped it would have been for the boys laden with their gear heading towards danger to defend freedom and liberate occupied France. There were 23,000 troops who landed at Utah Beach with about 200 casualties. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr, President Theodore Roosevelt’s son, insisted on landing with the first wave (4 th Infantry Division), earning the Medal of Honor for his leadership. One reason the landing at Utah Beach suffered lighter casualties was due to the current that pushed the landing force over a mile south of the intended landing point to a section of the beach that was less fortified.

Omaha, however, became one of the deadliest battlefields of D-Day, where soldiers faced cliffs, hills, machine gun fire, and heavy losses. The 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions landed over 34,000 American troops on the beach and sustained the highest casualties with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 soldiers killed, injured, or missing. The same current that helped the soldiers land at Utah Beach scattered the forces at Omaha Beach, increasing the difficulty our soldiers faced in successfully taking the position. The group had a picnic-style lunch at Omaha Beach, allowing more time to visualize the almost insurmountable odds our boys faced as they charged from landing craft towards a well-fortified hill. Standing on those same sands, with waves lapping gently against the shore, it’s hard to reconcile the peaceful setting with the terror that once unfolded there. But the silence speaks volumes.

Perched between the beaches is Pointe du Hoc, a jagged bluff where 225 U.S. Army Rangers from the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions carried out one of the most daring missions of the day. Tasked with scaling the 100-foot cliffs to disable German artillery, the Rangers climbed under relentless fire, reaching the top only to find many of the guns had been moved. Even so, their assault prevented future attacks on the beaches. The two-day battle left only 90 Rangers able to fight, but their success protected the landing forces on Omaha and Utah beaches. The cratered landscape and shattered bunkers remain preserved, a powerful testament to both the brutality and heroism of that morning.

Our final stop in Normandy was the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. Set on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, the cemetery holds 9,388 white marble markers, each representing a life given for freedom. The 172.5-acre land, gifted to the United States in perpetuity by France, is considered American soil—allowing the fallen to rest as if at home. Each cross and Star of David is angled westward, facing the United States, a quiet yet profound reminder that these soldiers are always looking home. Among the fallen buried here are 33 sets of brothers, a father and son, four Medal of Honor recipients, and Theodore Roosevelt Jr., all men of honor who fought valiantly during the war. The rows seem endless, but every stone tells a story. The section of the cemetery that allows you to walk the rows gave me time to learn names and origins of our brave soldiers, and thank them by name for defending the freedom I have today.

As we wrapped up our time in Normandy, the weight of history hung with us, etched in every beach, bridge, and memorial we had visited. This leg of the journey offered a sobering and powerful glimpse into the courage and sacrifice required to alter the course of history. Standing where they stood—walking where they fought—made it impossible not to reflect on the cost of freedom. In the final part of this article, we’ll follow the war's path deeper into Europe, traveling through Germany to explore its complex past, visiting sites such as Dachau, Munich, and the Eagle’s Nest.