D-Day in France

A manikin in uniform hangs by his parachute from the church steeple in St. Mere Eglise.

June 6^th marked the 69^th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of WWII. It is a date that is very important to the people of France. Many people, including our neighbor remember living in France during the German occupation of World War II. For them it is not just an excuse to go to the beach or have a picnic in the sun. It is a day to remember and give thanks for the freedom that we enjoy today. Freedom can never be taken for granted, it is too fragile and too important. 

 Alice and I decided to spend a day in St. Mere Eglise for the celebration of D-Day. It is a pleasant two hour drive from our home through the French countryside. When we arrived, it was like being in France, 1944. The streets were filled with men in American uniform going in and out of cafes, driving jeeps and trucks around the town. An American camp was set up with, tents, vehicles, artillery, mess facilities, and a chaplain. 

The town square was filled with more army vehicles and men in uniform getting food from a chow line (actually a sausage vender, selling hot dogs French style on a sliced baguette).  

After having lunch, Alice and I visited the Airborne Museum which is in the center of town. It is an excellent modern museum with a Waco glider and a C-47 tow plane featured in their own buildings. The building and the displays are strictly first class.

Alice and the Waco glider which can be toured. Inside the glider are pilot and soldiers ready for take off.

The C-47 tow plane is the centerpiece of a life-size diorama.

Sherman tank outside the museum.

As we finished our tour of the museum, a girl announced a re-enactment of troops preparing for an air drop about to take place outside. Alice and I headed back out into the sunshine (and cold wind, we still needed our jackets today) to watch the young French and English men that had spent so much time and effort in dressing up for the roles they would play in celebration of this special day.

A half dozen veterans of WWII came to celebrate the 69th anniversary of D-Day. They had served as British Paratroopers.

Re-enactment of paratroopers preparing for battle.

It was a fun and exciting day. The perfect way to remember D-Day and the sacrifice made by so many young men to preserve the freedom that we enjoy today. 

The number of vehicles and men was impressive.

It was strange watching all these "American soldiers" speaking perfect French.

Representation of John Steele as he hung helpless from the church steeple and watched the fighting below.