Above and Right: Utah Beach. There were five beach landings in Normandy on D-day, June 6, 1944. Utah Beach was the most western. There were fewer casualties at Utah than at the other landings.

The casualty loss at Omaha Beach was much greater than at Utah Beach. Cliffs offered the Nazi Germans an advantage to the unprotected allied forces below. Omaha Beach was given the name "Bloody Omaha" due to the bloodbath that took place there on the day of the invasion. A total of 2,200 allied forces lost their lives that there that day.

Between Omaha and Utah beaches iss Pointe du Hoc. It was here that the allied forces, upon landing ashore, had to scale the 85-100 foot cliffs by using rope ladders.

Today, a stark reminder of the battlefield lingers, as German forts and tunnels, though demolished , remain. And though the grass has returned to a soft hue of green, it far from covers the turmoil that took place there.

Surrounding shots: Pointe du Hoc and the 85-100-foot cliffs scaled by allied forces on D-day

A museum in the town of Sainte- Mere- Eglise in Normandy is a tribute to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions who dropped paratroopers on the town during the morning hours of June 6, 1944, D-day.

Sainte-Mere-Eglise was the first town to be liberated by allied forces of World War II.

The church at Sainte-Mere-Eglise holds significance due to the misfortune of an American paratrooper John M. Steele of the 82nd Airborne Division.

As he neared the landing, a gust of wind blew him off course, and his parachute snagged on the steeple of the church. Having been injured, he watched helplessly the ensuing battle below.

The town of Arromanches sits on the Normandy coast and was one of the five D-day landing beaches, Gold Beach. In June of each year, it is host to thousands of veterans who return to honor those who participated in the great invasion.

Records indicate that 4,414 allied troops were killed in action during the D-day invasion. Of those, 2,499 were Americans.

The taking of Pegasus Bridge in Normandy by British forces was a major accomplishment during the D-day invasion. Its taking slowed the advancement of German forces and prevented a counter-attack after the invasion.

Above and Right: Cathedral Notre Dame de Bayeaux. Bayeaux is a prominent town in Normandy, rich in medieval histor.

Rouen is the capital city of Normandy. It was one of the largest and most prosperous town in France in medieval Europe. It was in this town that Joan of Arc was burnt in 1431.

The imposing structure of Mont St. Michel lies on a strip of an island just off the coast of Normandy. It was originally built as a fortification, but since the 8th century has been a monastery. Though improvements are being made, access to the monastery is cut off during high tide.