REMEMBRANCE TOURISM GUIDE 2019


YOUR GUIDE TO THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY Sainte-Mère-Église


There are hundreds of commemorative events taking place all over


Normandy and we cannot list them all, so here, in chronological order, is our selection. Times and location were correct at the time of going to press, but do check before attending. With thanks to Marc at www.dday-overlord.com


EVENTS IN 2019 April 18 – November 28 Château La Chenevière This hotel near the American Cemetery and Memorial has partnered with the Greatest Generations Foundation to organise a series of dinners in the company of veterans at its Le Botaniste restaurant. Three-course dinner with glass of Champagne: €190pp. www.lacheneviere.com


May 25 – June 16 Normandy D-Day Festival The International Peace March will depart from Sainte-Marie- du-Mont (Utah Beach) at 10am on May 25 and will be followed by an extended programme of events for this special anniversary, including a 9km guided hike in the footsteps of the 101st Airborne (which must be booked in advance) and a run of Harley Davidson military motorcycles from the 1940s. www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com


Sunday, June 2


Sainte-Marie-du-Mont The Utah Beach Landing Museum is organising a 15km guided hike with commented stops at Utah Beach and Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. www.normandie-tourisme.fr


Monday, June 3 Carentan-les-Marais A ceremony for peace will be held at 6pm.


Picauville


There will be a ceremony at 10am at the USAAF monument.


142 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Apr/May 2019


Ceremonies, Mass and wreath- laying, then evening concerts.


Saturday, June 8 Amfreville


Guided tour of the battlefield of the 82nd US Airborne Division at 4pm (mandatory registration). ot.sme@ccbdc.fr


Angoville-au-Plain 10.30am Mass followed by a commemorative ceremony.


The American B-26 bomber ‘Dinah Might’ at the Utah Beach D-Day Museum


Wednesday, June 5 Amfreville


There will be a ceremony at 11.30am on the rue du Moulin, followed by a parachuting of US forces, weather permitting.


Carentan-les-Marais


A full day of events, including a conference at the theatre, a parachuting of men in uniform from C-47 aircraft (weather permitting), a ceremony in the presence of American veterans, a military parade, a concert, and fireworks at the harbour.


Gourbesville


There will be a ceremony at the monument to the 90th US Infantry Division and the 82nd US Airborne Division at 10am.


Sainte-Mère-Église A group of pathfinders (the parachutists responsible for marking and securing the drop zones on D-Day) will give a demonstration at 10.45pm.


June 5-9 Caen


‘Daks Over Normandy’ will see 250 parachutists in period-style uniforms jump from 30 vintage Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota aircraft at Carpiquet Airport. www.daksovernormandy.com


Thursday, June 6


Normandy landing beaches The official international ceremony attended by Allied


Heads of State will take place on one of the landing beaches. There will be tributes at the exact time of landing on each the five beaches: 6.31am: Utah Beach 6.35am: Omaha Beach 7.20am: Sword Beach 7.25am: Gold Beach 7.25am: Juno Beach.


Bernières-sur-Mer


Commemorative ceremonies throughout the day.


Sainte-Marie-du-Mont A ceremony at 9am at the Major Richard Winters monument, and another at 10am at the museum.


Sainte-Mère-Église


A re-enactment at 2pm, Mass at 4pm, a ceremony at the Friends of American Veterans monument at 5.30pm, and a concert for peace at 8.30pm.


Friday, June 7 Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse A ceremony commemorating the liberation of the town will take place at 2.30pm.


Carentan-les-Marais A ceremony in the presence of the 101st US Airborne Division at 10am will be followed by the departure of the Liberty March.


Sainteny


There will be a wreath-laying ceremony in the presence of WWII veterans at 11.15am.


Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse A reenactors’ parade at 3pm followed by a parade of civilian and military vehicles from the 1940s. Liberty Ball at 7pm.


Carentan-les-Marais A parade at 4.30pm in the presence of 10th Airborne veterans before the arrival of the Carentan Liberty March. Liberation Ball at 8.30pm.


Écausseville


Inauguration of the monument in memory of American soldiers and civilians of Écausseville, followed by a reception.


Ranville British War Cemetery Ceremony at 11am in honour of the Commonwealth soldiers who fell, with the participation of members of the Poppies of the Commonwealth programme.


Saint-André-de-l’Eure Static presentation of WWII aircraft at the aerodrome in ‘L-Birds back to Normandy’. www.l-birds.fr


Sainte-Mère-Église D-Day Memorial Parade organised by Historic Programs, with the participation of 3,000 American musicians. Evening demonstrations of anti-aircraft search lights.


Sunday, June 9 Brévands


A ceremony will be held at 11am in honour of the 101st US Airborne Division.


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IMAGE © E VALÄRE / NORMANDY TOURISM


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