I recently returned from an amazing trip in Normandy, France for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. This was not just a vacation but rather work through the Making History Project. The goal of this project was to document the week-long celebrations and ceremonies as well as to take the audio/video oral histories of World War II Veterans. Mission accomplished!
Over the course of eight extremely long days and nights, I was able to visit some of the most telling and pivotal places for the battles of D-Day and beyond. Places like Port-En-Bessin, Omaha Beach, Bayeaux, Juno Beach, Arromanches, St. Mere-Eglise, Carentan, St Lo, Utah Beach, Pointe Du Hoc, and La Fiere.
I also could not resist the urge to visit the world class museums at Bayeux, Juno Beach, Utah Beach, Deadman’s Corner and the Battle of the Bloody Gulch. Throughout the week I also attended military ceremonies, memorials and parades at Gourbesville, Afreville, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Pointe Du Hoc and Carentan. I was equally honored to be the first to witness the installation of the new memorial for Medal of Honor recipient Charles DeGlopper outside of La Fiere. Then there was of course the amazing airdrop on June 8th at the Iron Mike Memorial where all present active duty soldiers parachuted over the fields of La Fierre.
Finally and perhaps most important, was the incredible honor, privilege and opportunity to meet and speak with countless returning World War II Veterans, both American and British, during the week. Luckily I was blessed to be able to take five video oral histories of those Veterans to preserve their stories forever. These oral histories are currently being processed and will be shared/archived with the U.S. Library of Congress and the National World War II Museum.
Last but not least, I had the pleasure of meeting and sharing time with many active duty U.S. service members from the 82nd Airborne, 101st Airborne, 1st Army Infantry Division, U.S. Army Rangers, U.S. Navy Seals, U.S. Exposive Ordnance Disposal team, U.S. Airforce and not least of all European Supreme Allied Commander and Four Star General Breedlove. As the Making History Project branches out, the preservation and oral history work will expand to all Veterans including those of the wars involving Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Many excellent contacts were made and hopefully they will blossom into everlasting relationships and more oral history work.
I would like to personally thank all those that assisted with making this week possible, including but not limited to MSG Manuel Perez, US Army Operations NCO for his help in obtaining the invitation to the June 6, 2014 ceremony at Omaha Beach with President Obama; Michelle Coupey from the Friends of the American Veterans in Normandy for her hospitality and interview room in St. Mere Eglise; Vivian Roger for her hosting of Veterans in her fine home the La Fiere B&B, allowing me to interview there and essentially hosting the June 8 Airdrop in her backyard; Franck Feuardent for the personal tour of his home and living museum at the Battle of the Bloody Gulch; the Beyond the Band of Brothers Tour and Joe Machol from ETO Tours for bringing so many Veterans back to Normandy; the French organization Veterans Back to Normandie Association for hosting Veterans with local families and escorting them during the week; Win McNamee of gettyimages for inspiring me to go up and march with General Breedlove in Carentan; author Ian Gardner from Osprey Publishing who encouraged me to write; and my new friends Yann Lelannier and Claude Beaumont for their hospitality and help during my stay.
In the near future, I intend to provide more details as to this trip and its results as the materials are processed. Things to look forward to include numerous photos, videos, interviews, and my own thoughts and reviews for all the sites, ceremonies and museums that were visited. Until then, I got to get back to making some history. Cheers.
