D-Day Normandy 2017 - 73rd Anniversary

[Birds Away]

It sure gets dusty in here. It speaks well of the French people that these places are so well and honorably maintained. Thank you.

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Sylvain]

It sure gets dusty in here. It speaks well of the French people that these places are so well and honorably maintained. Thank you.

When I showed up I looked around to see if there was a crew of gardeners working there since everything was so neat and the grass looked freshly cut.
But there was nobody around.
No matter when you show up in those places it always looks like someone was working there 5 minutes ago.

 

[Sylvain]

They keep a registry and visitor's record book.

I was surprised how often they get visitors since the place is not easy to find and away from main roads.
Lots of visitors from Canada.

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Birds Away]

When I showed up I looked around to see if there was a crew of gardeners working there since everything was so neat and the grass looked freshly cut.
But there was nobody around.
No matter when you show up in those places it always looks like someone was working there 5 minutes ago.

Certainly better than we keep our own. It's just as it should be, beautiful and peaceful.

 

[actaeon277]

Just in case someone doesn't know, the panzerfäustes are not really "rockets".
A charge ejects/propels them from the tube, but there is no rocket motor to further propel them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzerfaust

 

[Sylvain]

Just in case someone doesn't know, the panzerfäustes are not really "rockets".
A charge ejects/propels them from the tube, but there is no rocket motor to further propel them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzerfaust

You're right Act.
By "RPG" I meant to say it was an anti-tank weapon (like the RPG of the time if I can use that analogy) even though it doesn't launch rockets.

 

[actaeon277]

You're right Act.
By "RPG" I meant to say it was an anti-tank weapon (like the RPG of the time if I can use that analogy) even though it doesn't launch rockets.

I was just commenting. Not meaning to slap down your explanation or anything.

 

[Shadow]

Once again Sylvain you have out did your self --- thank you so much for sharing .

 

[Dirtebiker]

Thanks for the pics and ecspecially the video Sylvain!
It's great to see your people showing so much respect for ours!!!

 

[Trigger Time]

2017 D-Day parade in Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

US Army, WW2 veterans, reenactors and WW2 vehicles.

[video=youtube;pseIvKOlCIE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pseIvKOlCIE[/video]

And ceremony.

[video=youtube;mWJmT7Fj_ac]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWJmT7Fj_ac[/video]

Always cool to see vets signing autographs like rock stars! (Second video at 6:20)

Noticed some Rangers in the first video. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

 

[Sylvain]

Noticed some Rangers in the first video. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

 

[Sylvain]

Yet another WW2 memorial.

Two naval guns on top of a cliff and a few plaques around.
They belonged to a French ship sank 8 days after the battle of Dunkirk, in 1940.
British and French soldiers were on board.

They are 100 mm (4 inch) guns.

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Alamo]

Excellent posts, Sylvain.

 

[Sylvain]

On my way back from the cemetery I stopped by the beach.

After a closer look at the different flags displayed there I noticed one quite important was missing.Especially on that day.

They had a total of six flags ...

The flag of France, Normandy, the European Union, the UK, Canada and ... Germany.

It seemed odd that they chose to display the flags of major WW2 Allied without adding an American flag.

That mistake had to be fixed.
Good thing I always carry a 3 feet by 5 feet American flag as part of my EDC, with the 6 feet long pole to go with it!

Huge thanks to Chris, aka Dirtebiker, for the flag.

It was not easy making it fly with a 30 mph wind but I managed to do it.
Since it was the high tide I couldn't plant the pole directly into the sand and with that much wind I had to find something heavy to secure it.

A convenient fallen bunker provided a sturdy stand.
And what a better image than the star sprangled banner flying on top of a destroyed German bunker on D-Day?

Mistake fixed!

UPDATE:

Since my last visit to that beach the municipal council added more flags on display.
The American flag is now permanently flying there on a proper pole, just 50 yards away from where I flew mine in June.

Much higher and sturdier than my flimsy PVC pipe.

I don't have to carry my 3 by 5 US flag anymore when I got to the beach.

 

[Dirtebiker]

UPDATE:

Since my last visit to that beach the municipal council added more flags on display.
The American flag is now permanently flying there on a proper pole, just 50 yards away from where I flew mine in June.

Much higher and sturdier than my flimsy PVC pipe.

I don't have to carry my 3 by 5 US flag anymore when I got to the beach.

The European flag(?) is similar to the Indiana flag.