70th Anniversary of D-Day
2014 will see many countries commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day when Allied troops landed in Normandy culminating in the Liberation of Europe.
There are a wide variety of events planned to commemorate this historic occasion but the main attraction will be the 70th Anniversary D-Day Memorial Parade that will take place in Sainte-Mere-Eglise on Friday 6th June 2014. Sainte-Mere-Eglise was the first village in France to be liberated by the American paratroopers. The Memorial Parade will feature representatives from military units, marching bands and other associations who will walk down the same streets that were lined with American troops in June 1944. The Parade will conclude with a closing ceremony followed by a Musical Salute to the Veterans.
To mark this historic anniversary, many itineraries will feature visits to Le Memorial de Caen – a museum that showcases through photo archives and original video footage the history of the First World War. The museum also looks at the events leading up to Hitler winning the elections in 1933 and the outbreak of the Second World War. On display in the museum, visitors will find aircraft, military vehicles and uniforms. There are also interactive displays with touch screens where visitors can learn more about the two World Wars. The aim of Le Memorial de Caen is to spread the message of peace and reconciliation from one generation to another and so on. To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, the museum will be hosting a variety of exhibitions, conferences, meetings and other major events.
Located just a short distance from Caen, the Merville Battery Museum in Merville-Franceville, pays homage to the hundreds of young men who lost their lives during Operation Overlord. The artefacts on display are the originals that have been donated by the soldiers themselves. In addition to the displays, visitors can also walk around four bunkers that have been expertly preserved, providing exhibitions and the legendary Dakota C47 aircraft.
Visitors to Normandy should also visit the D-Day Landing Beaches that are still known today by their Wartime codenames of Utah, Omaha, Gold, June and Sword. One place of particular relevance is the American Cemetery and Visitor Centre that overlooks Omaha Beach. Visitors will be able to explore the Garden of the Missing that was created to honour the memory of all those killed in action. There is also a Chapel, Memorial and a Visitor Centre featuring a film depicting the lives of the soldiers and what they were experiencing at the time via a series of letters that were sent home and read out by their relatives. Anyone feeling active can obviously walk down to the D-Day Beaches where they can visualise what it must have been like and the enormity of the task ahead for the soldiers who helped to liberate the area.