Christ School Students Visit Normandy Days Before D-Day Anniversary
From May 26-June 3, 2016, Christ School students embarked on a trip called "The Last Days of World War II." 25 Christ School students retraced the path of American soldiers from London to Berlin exploring the military challenges and personal experiences of 1944-1945.
"It's such an important event not only in our history as a nation but the history of the world," said Liam McCann, who graduated from Christ School in May and just returned from one final field trip. "It's one thing to read about it, it's another thing to see the sites where it actually happened."
A highlight for everyone was the visit to the beaches in Normandy, France – the site of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944.
"I think walking through the American cemetery, I could tell they were all thinking and it was a moment when they were all reflecting and I think maybe felt a little sad, but also proud," said Christ School A.P. World History Olga Mahoney, who largely planned the trip.
She says, at points during the visit to the site in France, some students were visibly moved.
"[One] came over and gave me a hug and kind of broke down. He started shaking and he said thank you for this experience, it really means a lot to me. You know, it's hard for an 18-year-old boy to express feelings like that. But I know all of them were touched in some way," Mahoney said.
The group returned in time to observe the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day invasion at home.
