Club Arnage

Lots of commemorations going on in UK, at the beaches, elsewhere and on the television remembering 6 June 1944.

I'm just quietly contemplating and remembering the 165,000 troops embarked and heading over the Channel, with hundreds of ships and 11,000 aircraft in support, expecting a minimum of 10% casualties.  Some of them were looking out tomorrow over the vista we see approaching the shore in the Pompey-Ouistreham overnight ferry enroute to La Sarthe. And I'm remembering our paratroopers and the then other side arrayed on the shore too.

A glass raised in humble salute and thanks to those who survived and those who sacrificed their lives 70 years ago.

MG Mark

One of the few times I felt a forum needed a simple "like" button.

salute!

a sacrifice of lives of many people, from all over the world, trying to do the best for their beliefs and countries....
70 years ago this year, already, more and more people loose touch with what happened i feel

 in Holland we commemorate the september airdrops at Arnhem more than the Normandy invasion, but both (and more, like the battle of the bulge) are things that should never be forgotten and should be remembered for a long time to come

we are still grateful!

Hear Hear. I'll be raising my tea mug tomorrow watching it on the TV.

Every time I drive from Ouistreham in June I think about what it must have been like 70 years ago.

There's an interesting account here

http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/comm_booklets/normandy.pdf

Agreed Mark

Many glasses (and suitable substitutes) raised in honour of those people who did so much to change the world

Thank you guys

Well said gents, and on D-day + 70years, I will remember all those who stood up to be counted and gave us the liberties we have today.
Salut

I took the attached at the Duxford D-Day airshow

Mug of tea with a minute silent later

First culturevulture trip is pegasus bridge Weds morning time pending beaches and cemetry

Well said Mark et al.
Spent a few moments this morning talking to all the 20 to 24 year olds in our building about what we are commemorating today. It says a lot about our school's history curriculum that out of 7 youngsters only one had the first idea of what today is all about.

To all those that sacrificed; thank you.

Steve

Not really much attention for D-Day around here, at least not enough for me.  We've got a live stream of the ceremony in Normandy and a few online articles but that's about it.  Few items on the radio but no special programs up untill now, which is a shame.

Just ordered this book by a Belgian photographer who travelled the whole Atlantikwall, from Germany to Norway to photograph the remains of the bunkers : http://www.uitgeverijkannibaal.be/atlantic-wall?___store=k_en&___from_store=k_nl (http://www.uitgeverijkannibaal.be/atlantic-wall?___store=k_en&___from_store=k_nl).   I've got a personal photography project in mind 'round WWI and the end of WWII, starting with the cemetery's in Flanders Fields, battle of the somme, Normandy, Oradour-sur-Glane, Ouiestreham, Sainte-Mère Eglise, battles in the ardennes, Ypres ... Did quite some research already but time isn't on my side at the moment.  

Find it also striking that a lot of people of my age (going into their 40's) seem to have lost interest for the whole history about both world wars.  Younger generations hardly seem to realise what's been fought for 100 and 70 years ago.

I'm enjoying the BBC program. The tandam parachute jumps with the veteran para's must have stirred some memories.

Hear Hear.

We know how much you like your culturevulture trips Andy

Dean

I'm 'working from home' today and am pretty much glued to the BBC live coverage.

Personal memories and tribute to my late father-in-law who provided aerial support during D-Day as a serving member of the RAF.

Trying to avoid too much coverage while in the office as I know that I'll get a damn big lump in my throat and won't be able to speak to colleagues.

Will catch up later on the news with a glass of something to toast those brave men in hand.

70 Years - We Will Not Forget.

Big one for us next year in Guernsey, May 9th - 70th anniversary of our liberation from occupied forces.

Each year the 9th is a public holiday for us.

>Martini...LB

Did the war tunnels in Jersey last month and it had the dates of the Channel Isles occupation painted on the walls which eerily coincided (apart from the year) with both my offsprings birthdates.

Over here a great deal of attention is being paid to remembering the landings, and drops.  TV programs all day and night to recall the events of seventy years ago.  I'm off work today (just returned from visiting the in-laws in Detroit) and will spend the day watching Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, and the D-Day specials airing all over the various networks and cable channels.
My grandfather was badly wounded in the fight for Iwo Jima, injuries he never fully recovered from, and my great uncle perished in the Battle of Okinawa.  Obviously both battles of the Pacific campaign, but I still feel a great deal of pride & honor for our military forces, past, and present on a day like today.
Fax

Love the story about the veteran who was told he couldn't go by his nursing home.
Absconded and was found in France!

We will be calling in to a small cemetery in BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE

It's a war grave cemetery mostly for the chaps that were killed around the battle for Caen and the Falaise Gap which is where my wife's uncle was killed. Seeing that it is the 70th anniversary feels like the right thing to do rather that our usual LM homeward trip to Pegasus bridge. Have not told the group yet but sure they will be up for it.