Latest news with #Dday
Forbes
26-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Memorial Day: Much To Remember. So We Remember.
Rows of white crosses of fallen american soldiers at American War Cemetery at Omaha Beach Cimetiere ... More Americain, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France COLEVILLE-SUR-MER, NORMANDY, FRANCE – We walked through the imposing entrance, the middle of the semicircular colonnade with a loggia at each end. There we stood, at the foot of a 22-foot bronze statue entitled The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves by Donald De Luc. Over the arches of the Memorial is engraved "THIS EMBATTLED SHORE, PORTAL OF FREEDOM, IS FOREVER HALLOWED BY THE IDEALS, THE VALOR AND THE SACRIFICES OF OUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN". At the feet of the Memorial is engraved both in English and French "IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS AND IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". Thus began our visit – my wife, my 12-year-old son, and me – on the 50th anniversary of D-Day to the most somber place I've ever seen on this earth: The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial (French: Cimetière américain de Colleville-sur-Mer). The cemetery spreads out over 172.5 acres (roughly a quarter of a square mile) of strikingly beautiful land on a bluff overlooking the English Channel. On the day of our visit 31 years ago, the grass and shrubs were soft and lush, the sky was a vivid, cloudless blue, and the waters of the Channel – choppy, cold, and blood-filled on that fateful day 1944 – were soft, rhythmic, and calming on our day in 1994. There was a soft, sweet breeze coming off the Channel that whispered through the maples, pines, oaks, and sycamores as it caressed our bodies and souls, transporting the aromas of the flowering roses and heather to and about us. We remember. To honor this sacred day and to remember those who made it so, it couldn't have been a more perfect setting. Perched atop the cliffs of Omaha Beach, the cemetery holds 9,388 graves of American military personnel, with their white marble headstones seternally at attention. We remember. The cemetery also contains the graves of 45 pairs of brothers (30 of which are buried side by side), a father and his son, an uncle and his nephew, 2 pairs of cousins, 3 generals, 4 chaplains, 4 civilians, 4 women, 147 African Americans and 20 Native Americans. Further, 304 unknown soldiers are buried among the other service members. Their headstones read "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD". We remember. We spent an entire afternoon walking the grounds in total silence, along with many hundreds of the one million annual visitors. Words were not just insufficient. They were impossible and unnecessary. A time capsule is buried at the cemetery, to be opened on June 6, 2044, so that our progeny will continue to remember. And so we remember. We remember the thousands buried at Normandy and at American cemeteries all over the world. We remember those at rest in Arlington, Virginia. We remember the many. We remember the individuals. We remember my mother's younger brother Lewis, whose posthumously awarded Purple Heart I've proudly and emotionally passed along to my son. We remember my high school friend John. We remember the 58,000 who died in Vietnam. We remember those who died in Korea, the Middle East, and Afghanistan. We remember. I wish you a deeply thoughtful Memorial Day.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Berkshire D-Day plane gets visit from its US Air Force squadron
Current members of a US squadron, that flew from a UK air base on D-day, have climbed aboard one its wartime aircraft, as it undergoes C47 transport plane, nicknamed "Night Fright," was bound for the scrapyard in Arkansas when it was bought by the family who own its former RAF Membury wartime base in undergoing restoration in Britain after being transported back across the Atlantic in bits. So far restoration has cost over a million poundsLt Jimmy Records, who organised the visit to see the plane said: "If nobody puts the effort in to remember a plane like this, that flew on D-day, then it will be forgotten." Air and ground crew from the US Air Force 79th Air Refuelling Squadron went straight to Coventry to see the wartime aircraft at its temporary home, after flying into the UK from with Night Fright's owner, pilot and businessman, Charlie Walker, were forged after the commanding officer, Lt Col John Cuellar stumbled across pictures of the plane has since changed the unit's aircrew name patches to incorporate the squadron's wartime S6 identification code and black and white stripes like those applied to allied aircraft, to try and stop "friendly fire" incidents on to the badge he said, "That is a symbol of us taking part in that operation and its a link to our (current) members to say, you're part of something bigger." Charlie Walker said he originally intended to paint "Night Fright," back in its wartime colours and park it outside the family logistics business, on the edge of its wartime after deciding to restore it to flying condition, he has now spent over a million pounds sourcing parts from around the world. His aim, to try and return it to its exact condition on 6th June 1944 when it helped drop parachutists from the US 101st Airborne Division into Normandy. The unit, known as "The Screaming Eagles" because of their shoulder patches was immortalised in the TV series, "Band of Brothers.""Something that started as just an idea has grown into a living memorial," he told his American visitors. Many of the visitors, who are part of the US Air Force Reserve, work for various airlines when not in military uniform. They had flown in the UK to train with units based in visiting "Night Fright," they were due to tour the former RAF Membury, part of which now lies under the M4 motorway and a service station bearing the same name. Getting to look around the wartime plane was a highlight for many. Lt Col Jason Ruiz said, "It's like a living history of our squadron," describing being on board as "awe inspiring."Once "Night Fright" is flying again, hopefully by the end of the year, the restoration team has a standing invitation to visit California. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers wanted to tell airborne forces history
Volunteers are being recruited to help uncover the history of airborne forces in Lincolnshire. South Kesteven District Council is holding a free event for volunteers to conduct research as part of the authority's Soldiers from the Sky project. The commemorative project aims to mark the district's airborne forces history. The council's armed forces champion Councillor Bridget Ley said she hoped the ambassadors could discover and share the stories before they pass from memory. The two-hour event will take place at 10:00 BST on Saturday 7 June at the Wyndham Park Visitor Centre in Grantham, a day after commemorations for the 81st anniversary of D-Day. Following the event, attendees can pursue their own research and tell the story of South Kesteven hosting British, American and Polish paratrooper forces who trained locally for D-Day and Arnhem and flew into battle from local airfields. Paratroopers underwent gruelling training marches, dropped from C-47 Dakota aircraft stationed on giant American airfields around Grantham, drank ale in local pubs, and stayed in properties commandeered as military accommodation, according to the council. Ley said: "We have a wealth of information about this incredible chapter of South Kesteven's military heritage, a largely untold story of allied airborne forces who gathered here to fight for freedom. "There are layers of heritage that we have yet to uncover." The council said it hoped ambassadors would give local talks and share information on village websites and with parish councils and schools. The Soldiers from the Sky project received money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Tulips planted to honour WW2 airborne forces South Kesteven District Council
BBC News
18-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Volunteers wanted to tell Lincolnshire airborne forces history
Volunteers are being recruited to help uncover the history of airborne forces in Lincolnshire. South Kesteven District Council is holding a free event for volunteers to conduct research as part of the authority's Soldiers from the Sky commemorative project aims to mark the district's airborne forces council's armed forces champion Councillor Bridget Ley said she hoped the ambassadors could discover and share the stories before they pass from memory. The two-hour event will take place at 10:00 BST on Saturday 7 June at the Wyndham Park Visitor Centre in Grantham, a day after commemorations for the 81st anniversary of the event, attendees can pursue their own research and tell the story of South Kesteven hosting British, American and Polish paratrooper forces who trained locally for D-Day and Arnhem and flew into battle from local underwent gruelling training marches, dropped from C-47 Dakota aircraft stationed on giant American airfields around Grantham, drank ale in local pubs, and stayed in properties commandeered as military accommodation, according to the said: "We have a wealth of information about this incredible chapter of South Kesteven's military heritage, a largely untold story of allied airborne forces who gathered here to fight for freedom."There are layers of heritage that we have yet to uncover."The council said it hoped ambassadors would give local talks and share information on village websites and with parish councils and schools. The Soldiers from the Sky project received money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Walks on former paratroopers airbase to mark D-Day
Guided walks are being offered at a former World War Two airfield to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings. RAF North Witham in Lincolnshire was home to US paratroopers who were some of the first to land in France ahead of the main invasion on 6 June 1944. It is now the Forestry England-owned Twyford Wood near Colsterworth. The walks are part of South Kesteven District Council's Soldiers from the Sky project, which tells the stories of thousands of Allied airborne troops who trained and flew on mission from Lincolnshire. Visitors will be taken around the still intact runways where soldiers from the US Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions departed on the night of 5 June to be dropped behind German lines. They crossed the English Channel at a height of 50ft (15m) to avoid enemy radar on their way to Normandy. Their mission was to set up radio beacons and visual markers to guide the main invasion force. The walks are free but need to be booked in advance online. They will be held on 5 June, 12 June and 19 June starting at 17:30 BST and lasting about two and a half hours. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Paratroopers project gets £150,000 lottery funding Lincoln freedom parade marks D-Day anniversary Swastikas sprayed on D-Day bench South Kesteven District Council - Tickets
