D-Day in Normandy
The French have not forgotten the Normandy invasions. Not have the Belgians or the Dutch. In fact, thousands of them have been here in Normandy the past several days for the 62nd observance of the day. What is really weird, though, is that a lot of them are dressed up as American GIs and are driving WWII era vehicles and camping out in American Army tents. Who knew that there were so many re-enactors? Certainly not us. Quite uncanny to see a group of Yanks standing around in combat gear, smoking cigarettes and chatting away in French. Driving down every country lane you'll meet a convoy of Jeeps, trucks, whatever, but if you look closely, they have French license plates, or maybe Belgian. The big difference on this D-Day is that the sun is shining, there are no big guns going off and everyone is smiling.
On Saturday we had lunch in the square at St Mere-Eglise, along with a whole campful of re-enactors. On Sunday, we returned to see the 82nd Airborne drop about 150 paratroops over the famous bridge. Us and several thousand others, mostly French but some British and some Americans. An amazing number of old warriors showed up, although their ranks are thinning rapidly. Quite a thrill to watch the old-style round parachutes spill out of 4 C-130s at an altitude of about 1000 feet.
On Monday, we visited the Pegasus Bridge site and accidentally arrived just as the wreathlaying ceremony was beginning. This was the British sector and what those guys did is not fully appreciated by Americans who get their history from the movies. The Brits know how to do pomp and ceremony, that's for sure. There was a full military band, a bugle corps and, of course, a bagpiper. Also lots of active military in dress uniform as well as the old soldiers with their chests full of medals. I just want to know who designs those uniforms--a bit over the top in my opinion, but they sure do make the show!
Today we attended the wreathlaying ceremony at the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. The Americans don't send many active duty troops (although I'll cut them some slack for that paratroop extravaganza) but the politicans were in full view. The eyes still get pretty moist when they play the US national anthem on the carillon and lay those wreaths. Of course the rows and rows of crosses are enough to get me going anyway. Omaha is always a multi-hanky visit. There must have been a lot of Americans in the crowd because there was quite a chorus singing along with the 'Star-Spangled Banner' but again, many people from France and elsewhere in Europe to judge by the license plates in the parking lot.
Somehow it seems not quite right that the US ambassador arrives at a D-Day commemoration in a huge BMW.
After that event, we went down to the actual beach level (the cemetery is on top of the cliff) and saw a wreathlaying ceremony at the First Division Monument, the Big Red One guys. The entire color guard was made up of older French men, including the one carrying the Stars and Stripes. The guest of honor was a man who had landed on the first D-Day with the First Division; He had his great-granddaughters on each side as he accepted a medal from the mayor of the town. Another tearjerker.
All of Normandy is wall-to-wall tourists. I don't think there is anyone left in the Netherlands and there can't be many in Belgium either. Surprisingly, there are quite a few Germans including some tour busses.
It's pretty amazing to drive around this beautiful part of the world and think what it must have looked like 62 years ago. I can't even begin to comprehend what our troops went through and what the French civilian population had to endure. Americans are very lucky.
The French have not forgotten the Normandy invasions. Not have the Belgians or the Dutch. In fact, thousands of them have been here in Normandy the past several days for the 62nd observance of the day. What is really weird, though, is that a lot of them are dressed up as American GIs and are driving WWII era vehicles and camping out in American Army tents. Who knew that there were so many re-enactors? Certainly not us. Quite uncanny to see a group of Yanks standing around in combat gear, smoking cigarettes and chatting away in French. Driving down every country lane you'll meet a convoy of Jeeps, trucks, whatever, but if you look closely, they have French license plates, or maybe Belgian. The big difference on this D-Day is that the sun is shining, there are no big guns going off and everyone is smiling.
On Saturday we had lunch in the square at St Mere-Eglise, along with a whole campful of re-enactors. On Sunday, we returned to see the 82nd Airborne drop about 150 paratroops over the famous bridge. Us and several thousand others, mostly French but some British and some Americans. An amazing number of old warriors showed up, although their ranks are thinning rapidly. Quite a thrill to watch the old-style round parachutes spill out of 4 C-130s at an altitude of about 1000 feet.
On Monday, we visited the Pegasus Bridge site and accidentally arrived just as the wreathlaying ceremony was beginning. This was the British sector and what those guys did is not fully appreciated by Americans who get their history from the movies. The Brits know how to do pomp and ceremony, that's for sure. There was a full military band, a bugle corps and, of course, a bagpiper. Also lots of active military in dress uniform as well as the old soldiers with their chests full of medals. I just want to know who designs those uniforms--a bit over the top in my opinion, but they sure do make the show!
Today we attended the wreathlaying ceremony at the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. The Americans don't send many active duty troops (although I'll cut them some slack for that paratroop extravaganza) but the politicans were in full view. The eyes still get pretty moist when they play the US national anthem on the carillon and lay those wreaths. Of course the rows and rows of crosses are enough to get me going anyway. Omaha is always a multi-hanky visit. There must have been a lot of Americans in the crowd because there was quite a chorus singing along with the 'Star-Spangled Banner' but again, many people from France and elsewhere in Europe to judge by the license plates in the parking lot.
Somehow it seems not quite right that the US ambassador arrives at a D-Day commemoration in a huge BMW.
After that event, we went down to the actual beach level (the cemetery is on top of the cliff) and saw a wreathlaying ceremony at the First Division Monument, the Big Red One guys. The entire color guard was made up of older French men, including the one carrying the Stars and Stripes. The guest of honor was a man who had landed on the first D-Day with the First Division; He had his great-granddaughters on each side as he accepted a medal from the mayor of the town. Another tearjerker.
All of Normandy is wall-to-wall tourists. I don't think there is anyone left in the Netherlands and there can't be many in Belgium either. Surprisingly, there are quite a few Germans including some tour busses.
It's pretty amazing to drive around this beautiful part of the world and think what it must have looked like 62 years ago. I can't even begin to comprehend what our troops went through and what the French civilian population had to endure. Americans are very lucky.
posted by Al and Linda @ 7:07 AM
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