60th anniversary of the D-Day landings

[Krisu]

Thanks for posting this. Let's hope we never forget. Did anyone see the Memorial Day Service from Washington and hear actor Charles Durning talk about his experiences at D-Day?

 

[Van Helsing]

Grog Thanks for the reminder of the 1st Battalion

http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/groups/rur/photo..htm

Both Battalions were in action on D Day and almost continuously thereafter until the battle of Normandy was won. The 2nd Battalion fought on through France and Belgium into Holland. The 1st Battalion, as airborne troops, were withdrawn to England to prepare for the next offensive, but were called in "to plug the gap" created by the German attack through the Ardennes. They did in the event land by glider across the Rhine near Hamminkeln and together with the 2nd Battalion drove on into Germany until peace was secured.

http://www.royalirishrangers.co.uk/rifles.html

Motto 'Quis Separabit' ( Who shall separate us )

 

[trishy]

Thank you for posting this thread.

 

[Van Helsing]

A million poppies were dropped off the coastline of Normandy in remembrance of those who lost their lives

 

[GaryAdams]

At the conclusion of the fighting in Normandy, there were more than ten American cemeteries on the battlefield, with hundreds of small burial grounds and isolated graves. The American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) repatriated at least 60% of these burials back to the United States, and concentrated the remaining casualties into two main cemeteries; one here in Normandy and another in Britanny.To a size of 172.5 acres, the Normandy American Cemetery has 9,387 burials of US service men and women. Of this number, some 307 are unknowns, three are Medal of Honour winners and four are women. In addition there are 33 pairs of brothers buried side by side. It is the largest American Cemetery from WW2, but not the largest in Europe: that is the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery from WW1 with more than 14,000 burials.

funny how VH only talks about uk soldiers,i thought he was from the Netherlands?

 

[Van Helsing]

GaryAdams just for you ( what happened to you donation to your dear friend - you seem to have left that of you signature )

Yvonne McEwen, a historian with a special interest in Irish affairs, has now come up with a detailed estimate of the numbers of Irishmen from both sides of the border who fought for Britain.

Based on the War Office calculation that 22 men served for every one who died, she estimates that 99,997 Irishmen volunteered, with the number divided almost evenly between the North and the South.

Fascinating stuff which still has a certain political resonance. After all it suggests that while the government of Ireland may have been neutral, many of its people were not.

 

[GaryAdams]

again VH, funny how you still havent talked about all the americans who lost their lives freeing europe.
thats ok, ignore the great country you "claim" to be from, the Neatherlands.


btw? what happened to all your tags? perhaps you should go back to playing with the tag faries.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Please - don't dishonour those men and women by making petty, political comments.

My family and our friends have just returned from a weeks holiday in Normandy, France. We had no real intention of visiting much more than one of the beach landing sites for the D-Day anniversary. However, we visited Bayeaux to see the tapistry and discovered the War Museum there. This, together with the largest of the British war cemetries in Normandy - where 4868 are buried - was one of the most moving - and humbling - experiences of my life.

My father fought in the war, thankfully he survived. He didn't have to face the particular horrors of the beaches of Normandy.

I saw them last week, I sat on the beach at the Utah site and contemplated what horrors those brave, young soldiers faced. I walked among the graves for the UK, Canadian and American forces. Even our 11-year old children were moved by the things we saw throughout our week's stay. Something they will remember throughout their lives; something, please God, they never have to experience.

We were lucky enough to see nearly 500 parachutists descend from Hercules and Dakota aircrafts down onto Ranville yesterday afternoon, what a sight that was. We could almost begin to imagine what it could have been like, only these guys weren't being fired on by enemy fire like 60 years ago. We saw the manequin of the parachutist (forgive me, his name I have forgotten) who landed at night entangled on the spire of the church at St Mere Eglise - who features, along with the Pegasus Bridge, in the film The Longest Day. There, along with thousands of WWII enthusiasts, recreating those days from 60 years ago, we toured the American Airbourne museum and met with Forrest Huth, a renowned survivor from 60 years ago.

I'm not getting involved in the policitics here, just wanted to express my appreciation for the lives that were laid down for our generations to survive. Like the graves say, "gone, but not forgotten".

God bless them all.

 

[Danauk]

A great thread VH, thank you for making us remember the people of all nationalities who faught during the war.

Also I would like to point out as a teacher children are taught about the effects of WW2 and to respect the people of all countries who faught in it. I have just spent 14 weeks teaching my 7 year olds about the effects of WW2, a topic they were very interested in. Many children brought in accounts from their grandparents about their lives in WW2. Their grandparents were too young to fight but sent in very detailed accounts of how the war affected young children. I would like to think that my children now have a great respect for men and women of the military who continually fight for our freedom.

I would also like to add that we took our children to Duxford air museum. The air base which was used by American forces during the war is now a museum showing aircraft using during WW2 (as well as other aircraft) and also has a recreation of the scenes solidiers faced during the war in France. Plus it has a building dedicated to the American military both past and present. My children learned from this the contribution our American friends made during the conflict.

 

[Van Helsing]

Please - don't dishonour those men and women by making petty, political comments.

I agree Mrs Dazzle

US actor Tom Hanks chats with a WWII veteran at the US cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer

 

[GaryAdams]

twice i have stood on the hills of Colleville-sur-mer over looking the beach.

twice i have walked through the Memorial of the Gardens of the Missing.

i pay honor to those who lost their lifes for freedom.

i choose to remember ALL who gave their lifes,not a select few.

 

[damo]

My 18 year old daughter is volunteering today at the 60th Anniversay Battle of Normandy Event at Queen's Park for the March of Remembrance. I think it is so important that today's young people interact with veterans to appreciate their sacrifices. After all, more than 15,000 Canadians became the third largest Allied Force participating in the D-Day invasion in Normandy.

A quote from an unknown author,

"It was the veteran, not the preacher, that guarantees you the freedom of religion. It was the veteran, not the reporter, that guarantees you the freedom of the press.

"It was the veteran, not the poet, that guarantees you freedom of speech, it was the veteran, not the campus organizer, that guarantees you the right to assemble.

"It was the veteran, not the lawyer, that guarantees you the right to a fair trial. It was the veteran, not the politician, that gives us the right to vote."

 

[Van Helsing]

i choose to remember ALL who gave their lifes,not a select few.

Here Here and don't forget the many German dead as well

 

[Van Helsing]

http://www.excaliburknights.com/highland/scottish music/flowers.mid

The flowers of the forest

We will remember them

 

[BabyLove99]

Originally posted by daughter_of_amid_chaos
There is a great post my BabyLove99 about this on the Teen Board.
She has been interested in this since I have known her and she posted links to articles and so on. They are very interesting.

http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?s=&threadid=582487

Thanks for that little "shout out" Norah.

Ernie Pyle's words always get to me......

The strong, swirling tides of the Normandy coastline shift the contours of the sandy beach as they move in and out. They carry soldiers' bodies out to sea, and later they return them. They cover the corpses of heroes with sand, and then in their whims they uncover them.

As I plowed out over the wet sand of the beach on that first day ashore, I walked around what seemed to be a couple of pieces of driftwood sticking out of the sand. But they weren't driftwood.

They were a soldier's two feet. He was completely covered by the shifting sands except for his feet. The toes of his GI shoes pointed toward the land he had come so far to see, and which he saw so briefly.

 

[Van Helsing]

A lone bagpiper plays a lament overlooking Juno Beach in Colleville-sur-Mer

 

[sunni]

They'll always be remembered.

 

[Disney Doll]

We owe all our military men and women a debt of gratitude.

Freedom isn't free.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

My wonderful Grandfather was on the beach that very day, he still can't talk very much about it and it brings tears to his eyes. The video, pictures and speeches this weekend were wonderful tributes to those who were there and made the ultimate sacrafice. I'm hoping when my Grandfather gets well I will be able to take him to the WWII memorial so he can see it and have closure.

~Candy