Normandy Beaches on D Day
 

Today is the 70th anniversary of D Day. Many have stood on the beaches of Normandy looking out to where Allied soldiers stormed ashore under heavy fire. I was too young for WW II and wasn't sure about visiting the invasion places recently. But I'm glad we did along with the American Cemetery. It was indeed moving.

In the Boston Globe (June 1) was a write up of what it was like for residents of the villages. There was considerable damage and loss of life. Also I was reading about Sainte- Mere- Eglise which was the first village liberated. About 15,000 airborne troops landed in and around the village after midnight. Young 10 year old Henri Jean Renaud was in a ditch for safety. His mother Andree among those welcoming the soldiers and now 88 has for many years taken pictures of markers of the fallen in the American cemetery and mailed them to the soldier's family with a note.

Okay, so tomorrow is D Day plus 70...June 6...I stand corrected.

There was a recent program on PBS (Nova, I think) that was about the underwater exploration off the D-day beaches. They told the story (before, during, after) of the invasion (plus the earlier disaster at Dieppe), had segments on the specific equipment designed for the landings (some that worked, some that were duds) and searched for submerged wrecks. A few vets of the invasion were included which really put faces and lives to the narrative. Overall, a great program.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/militar...n-secrets.html

Normandy and the D-Day beaches remains one of our all-time favorite trips.

We have been to Normandy twice, Netherlands twice and St. James to honor our soldiers.

Live coverage of ceremonies at Normandy, but it does start at 4am.

Not many American's visit St. James in Brittany.

Our host at the chateau, a Count, takes care of one soldiers grave and we had taps played at that gravesite by the Superintendent.

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memor...rican-cemetery

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memor...rican-cemetery

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memor...rican-cemetery

Checking the first mentioned above by iris1745 you'll get a good brochure of the landing areas and American cemetery.

Hi Ozarkbill,

Most appropriate to mention the commemorations of D-Day in past decades. One of the most memorable was the dramatic tribute paid by Ronald Reagan in 1984 (President Clinton did the honors in 1994, while George W. Bush paid tribute in 2004).

For a great read about that moving speech I would recommend THE BOYS OF POINTE DU HOC, Ronald Reagan, D-Day, and the U. S. Army Ranger Battalion by historian Douglas Brinkley. Reagan's focus on this one episode crystallized the whole D-Day Experience.

To watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEIqdcHbc8I

ttt

I hope everyone that goes to France visits this area. Belgium, battle of the Bulge area is also very moving and close to my heart with my Dad. They gave so much and the people in those villages, just can't even imagine.

flpab--I agree, I think everyone who can get to France can have the time and get over to Normandy. We have been several times and it still leaves us in awe. The first time we went was a week after DH returned from a 6 month deployment. He spent some time alone on the beach, which I can only imagine what all was going through his head.

For the U.K., the bigger commemorations in 2014 are for the centenary of the start of the First World War. There are no survivors of that conflict alive now, but the impact, certainly in the number of casualties, was much greater than in the Second World War. The significance of the 70th anniversary of D-Day is that few of the survivors will be alive in 10 years time. Even now, there are apparently fewer than 1000 British D-Day survivors, and the Normandy Veterans Association will be wound up later this year because of that.

Perhaps D-Day is easier to commemorate because we don't have to get into arguments between former allies of when the war actually began.

The French television coverage of the events today was extraordinary, but it's true that in France as well, the main military commemorations will start in November 2014 and of course last through the next four years.

Some of the expositions have already begun.

KEROUAC: "The French television coverage of the events today was extraordinary..." I am sure it was. I was so happy to see that the weather was beautiful in Normandy this morning for the commemoration. When we visited the landing beaches in June 2012, the weather was beastly - windswept torrents driving in from the Atlantic that day. But the experience remains so memorable.

CHARTLEY: "For the U.K., the bigger commemorations in 2014 are for the centenary of the start of the First World War." I hear you. I am going to London in mid June and have listed several exhibits on WWI which I hope to see.

"Enduring War: Grief, Grit and Humour free exhibit Enduring War: Grief, Grit and Humour"
Thursday 19 June - 12 October 2014 at the BRITISH LIBRARY

"Never Again! World War I in Cartoon and Comic Art "
CARTOON MUSEUM 35 Little Russell Street London

"GERMAN JEWS AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR:A multi-dimensional approach to the experience of Jewish servicemen under the German Empire and Nazis. The WIENER LIBRARY, 29 Russell Square

"Art and Honour : contemporary impressions of WWI"
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON, Main Library | Wilkins Building, Gower Street

All of these venues are within walking distance in Bloomsbury. Probably won't make them all, but they remain options.

Hr

the main military commemorations will start in November 2014 and of course last through the next four years.

That is interesting and may really push us to come back. My father drove ambulances for the French Army as part of the America Field Service before the US entered that war.

GRETCHEN

"My father drove ambulances for the French Army as part of the America Field Service before the US entered that war."

That's interesting. Maybe he know Hemingway, eh? He must have been the daring sort.

If you google "WWI commemorations London" or wherever, you will find many options.

Actually my parents lived in Paris during the 20's when Hemingway was "around". He was part of a group from Miami University who left early in their senior year to join the AFS--and they did graduate. He came back to the US after they entered the war and was in flight training to return when the war ended.
And the ambulances often had ammunition in them apparently.