Summary of D-Day 59th anniversary in Normandy
2003 D-Day Commemorations in Normandy
Friday, June 6, 2003
- 10:30 a.m. – Colleville-sur-Mer, US Military Cemetery
Present: officials, the Main Band of the BREST Fleet Crews, a detachment from the 42nd Signal Regiment comprising the Commanding Officer, a senior officer, the flag and its guard, a four-section company, as well as coordinators (active and reserve) provided by the DMD 14 and 50, the CIRATs of Calvados and Manche, and the BARC of Caen. At sea, the CMT CAPRICORNE cruised near Omaha Beach.
The ceremony unfolded as follows: arrival of the authorities, ecumenical ceremony, laying of wreaths by the authorities, national anthems, departure of the authorities.
Approximately 500 people were present.
- From 11:20 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Between Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and Vierville-sur-Mer, at the monuments of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division, The Big Red One, and the National Guard, respectively.
Present: as in Colleville-sur-Mer, but the French military detachment is replaced by an honor guard of the Marines (0-1-9) from the permanent core of honors, and the band by that of the Rennes RTNO.
The ceremonies unfold as follows: arrival of the authorities, laying of wreaths, Posting of the Dead, departure of the authorities. Before the departure of the authorities, the honor guard of the Marines (0-1-9) from the permanent core of honors poses with collectors from Nantes for a souvenir photo.
There are approximately 200 people present.
- 2:30 p.m. – Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, American Federal Monument
Present: as in Colleville-sur-Mer, plus five non-commissioned officers for the raising of the colors.
The ceremony proceeded as follows: arrival of the authorities, raising of the colors and national anthems, speeches by Admiral Brac de la Perriere, Chairman of the Landing Committee, His Excellency Mr. Howard Leach, Ambassador of the United States of America to France, and Mr. Mekacherra, Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs. Then, wreath laying and departure of the authorities.
There were approximately 600 people present.
- 4:30 p.m. – American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer
Present: His Excellency Mr. Howard Leach, Ambassador of the United States of America, Mr. Raffarin, French Prime Minister, General William Leszczynski, and Superintendent Gene Dellinger, two of the officials responsible for American cemeteries in France.
The ceremony proceeded as follows: arrival of the authorities. Prime Minister Raffarin and Ambassador Howard Leach observed the cemetery’s orientation table in front of Omaha Beach, paid their respects at the graves of American soldiers, and laid wreaths. American and French national anthems were played by the cemetery carillon, followed by a walkabout for the French Prime Minister. Departure of the authorities.
Approximately 300 people were present.
- 5:30 p.m. – Courseulles-sur-Mer, in front of the Juno Beach Centre for its inauguration
Present: Mr. Raffarin, French Prime Minister, Mr. Chretien, Canadian Prime Minister, the Mayor of Courseulles-sur-Mer, Mr. de Mourgues, and 900 Canadian veterans and their families invited for the occasion, as well as 200 CRS (Responsible Police) for protection and a Fennec from the National Gendarmerie.
The ceremony unfolded as follows: arrival of authorities, parades, French and Canadian national anthems, release of Canadian Sky Hawks paratroopers, speeches by Mr. Raffarin and Mr. Chretien, passage of a Spitfire, inauguration of the museum and unveiling of the Colin Gibson statue, passage of a helicopter and dropping of thousands of poppies. There were no incidents, but the presence of pension protesters in France increased the number of CRS officers on site and significantly hampered the movement of veterans and their families.
There are about 4,000 people present.
Sunday, June 8, 2003
- 3:30 p.m. – Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Pont de la Fière and Iron Mike Monument
Present: 3 American C-130 Hercules, 75 American paratroopers, 1 French paratrooper.
The parachute drop proceeded as follows: the weather conditions were not very favorable for a military parachute jump: the wind was very strong. Only 2 C-130 Hercules were present for the drop; they released approximately 45 paratroopers, half of whom were special forces members of the 1st Battalion, 8th Group, based in Germany as part of USAREUR (United States Army in Europe).
It turns out, according to the information I received from the paratroopers, that one of the C-130s struck a bird during takeoff and was forced to land immediately. In theory, once the two C-130 Hercules aircraft in the area have completed their operation, they should return to their airport to retrieve the paratroopers who were unable to leave. However, the very strong winds caused three injuries to the American paratroopers, one of whom was evacuated by a Civil Security helicopter (with a fractured pelvis), and for this reason, the parachute drop had to be interrupted. The paratroopers who successfully completed their jump posed in front of the Iron Mike monument for a souvenir photo.
There were approximately 2,500 people present.
