Sand from Omaha Beach used to fill in the letters on their tombstones of the fallen.

[packman]

17. My uncle was in the Army during the invasion

And many decades later, he and his wife saved enough from his steelworker's salary to go on a cheap tour of Europe. Going through customs in France, a bored and rather arrogant (his impression) agent asked him as they were inspecting their baggage if their visit was
business or pleasure. He replied pleasure and the agent asked what type of pleasure were they expecting in France. He replied that the last time he was in France he didn't have much time to explore the beaches of the country. "Oh", the agent asked, "And what beaches are you going to visit on your pleasure trip this time". He replied Omaha, Gold and a few others that he and his buddies landed on.

Strange - of all the things he must have experienced and done - he was a medic, this is the only story I can recall he told about his time in France.