Remembering D-Day 77 Years Later

D-Day Landing Beaches Then & Now

77th Anniversary

D-Day

June 6, 2021

On June 6, 1944, D-Day, my father landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. He never spoke much about that day, other than to say that his tank had sunk, he had been rescued, and was redeployed. He was in his early 20s at the time.

Today marks another anniversary of D-Day, the day that the allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin to take back Europe.   The generation that fought that battle are slowly fading away, leaving only written accounts in their place.

My father is among those who are no longer with us. He and his comrades live on in our hearts as we honor them today during the commemoration of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.  On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary (2019), a few surviving soldiers gathered to participate in various events.  Since then, there have been few able to return there due to the pandemic.

77th Anniversary - New British Monument

For the second year in a row, anniversary commemorations were marked by virus travel restrictions that prevented veterans or families of fallen soldiers from the U.S., Britain, Canada and other Allied countries from making the trip to France. Only a few officials were allowed exceptions.

Socially distanced participants gathered at the site of the newly-built British Normandy Memorial near the village of Ver-sur-Mer. Bagpipes played memorial tunes and warplanes zipped overhead trailing red-white-and-blue smoke. 

The new monument pays tribute to those under British command who died on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. A text carved on the wall writes: “They died so that Europe might be free.”

 

“These are the men who enabled liberty to regain a foothold on the European continent, and who in the days and weeks that followed lifted the shackles of tyranny, hedgerow by Normandy hedgerow, mile by bloody mile,” Britain’s ambassador to France, Lord Edward Llewellyn, said at the inauguration of a new British monument to D-Day’s heroes.

 
  Retracing History

My parents went back to Normandy many years later for the 40^th anniversary observance.  He visited the grave of his commanding officer in the American Cemetery (shown to the left). Despite all his bravery, that sight moved him to tears.My husband and I returned to Omaha Beach and several historic sites in Normandy, France for the 60^th anniversary.

This was a very moving experience for us as well and it brought to life events which until then was just something we read about in history books.

That trip was in conjunction with a 12 Night British Isles / Norwegian Fjords cruise.   We arranged for a private tour with a local guide during which we walked on the beaches, visited all four of the cemeteries and other memorial sites.

Normandy Then & Now

The benefit of using a local guide was that we not only visited the various sites, but were also provided historical background, through images from 1944 so that we could experience Normandy in a totally different way.

Must See Sites

Our guide picked us from our ship in LeHarve early in the morning and returned us there in early evening.   He could have gone longer, but we were tired and decided to return to the ship instead of having dinner in Honfleur.


77th Anniversary Links:

D-Day 77th anniversary - 2021 - Normandy commemorations

Battle of Carentan (101st Airborne)

National D-Day Memorial

Commemorative Photos

 

More Coverage  on Twitter      @ChrisPappinMCC

D-Day Landing - Arnhem (Groesbeek) - Liberation Museum

 

Powerful interactive exhibit on #DDay and #Normandy Invasion from @USNatArchives & @Google is available here: D-Day and the Normandy Invasion   

 

Explore artifacts, oral histories, and more from The National WWII Museum D-Day

In honor of this Anniversary of D-Day, we have verified links in our previous blog articles.  Visit our Shutterfly Share Page for our Normandy (D-Day) Photo Albums.

Read More on our Blog:

Normandy, France - Retracing History

Our tour started with visits to all three cemeteries:

The British Cemetery (Bayuex War Cemetary)
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
German Cemetery (La Cambe German Cemetery)

Normandy, France - Retracing History (Part 2)

Not far from  Normandy Beaches we stopped at:

Le Grand Bunker Museum 
Pegasus Bridge
 
Normandy, France - Retracing History (Part 3)

We concluded our Normandy visit with three destinations:
St Mere Eglise
Pointe du Hoc
Honfleur, France

D-Day      6 June 1944

The beaches were quiet the day we visited the Normandy Beaches unlike the early morning hours in 1944. I encourage you to include a visit to Normandy should your cruise call in LeHavre, France.  Bring the entire family, especially children, so that they can bring history to life.

 D-Day - A Critical Moment In History



Utah beach    Pointe du Hoc   Omaha beach    Gold beach   Juno beach   Sword beach

Some More D-Day References on the Web

Tuesday June 6, 1944 : minute per minute
Normandie Mémoire
National D-Day Mermorial Foundation

 

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I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

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CDC Seeks Public Comments on Cruising and Covid-19

On July 16, 2020, CDC extended the No Sail Order and Suspension of Further Embarkation thru September 30th stating 'The current scientific evidence suggests that cruise ships pose a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission than other settings.'

On July 21, 2020, CDC announced a Request for Information related to cruise ship planning and infrastructure, resumption of passenger operations, and additional summary questions. This information may be used to inform future public health guidance and preventative measures relating to travel on cruise ships.

Public Can Comment

Interested persons or organizations are invited to participate by submitting comments specifically on the following questions related to planning and infrastructure, resumption of passenger operations, and summary questions raised in this document.

This was formally documented in the Federal Register here.  There are 28 questions, many of which have subcategories.  A PDF version of the Federal register is available here.

Until now, the cruise industry talks with the CDC have been focused on operations to protect the safety of crew members onboard ships that have been impacted by the no-sail order.   This opens the door for talks about resumption of operations with health and safety measures in place.

You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2020-0087 by any of the following methods listed below. CDC does not accept comment by email.

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. 
• Mail: Maritime Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS V18-2, Atlanta, GA 30329.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket Number. All relevant comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.

For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov. 

CLIA Response to Extension

According to Seatrade Cruise News, In response to the CDC's extended no-sail order, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said the industry remains 'aligned with the CDC in our commitment to public health and safety. We are also pleased that the CDC has announced its intention to issue a request for information about the industry's resumption of passenger operations. As we continue to work towards the development of enhanced protocols to support the safe resumption of cruise operations around the world, we look forward to timely and productive dialogue with the CDC to determine measures that will be appropriate for ocean-going cruise operations to resume in the United States when the time is right.'

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Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat  

Each week we post images from our trips and participate in several travel chats on Twitter.

Take advantage of these resources to assist in you in planning your dream vacations.  Of course, we are always available to answer any questions you might have about travel and the industry.

D-Day Then and Now 76 Years Later

D-Day Landing Beaches Then & Now

76th Anniversary

D-Day

June 6, 2020

On June 6, 1944, D-Day, my father landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. He never spoke much about that day, other than to say that his tank had sunk, he had been rescued, and was redeployed. He was in his early 20s at the time.


Today marks another anniversary of D-Day, the day that the allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin to take back Europe.   The generation that fought that battle are slowly fading away, leaving only written accounts in their place.

My father is among those who are no longer with us. He and his comrades live on in our hearts as we honor them today during the commemoration of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.  On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary (2019), a few surviving soldiers gathered to participate in various events.

76th Anniversary - Virtual Remembrance

No public commemoration of D-Day 2020: The French State forbid public gatherings and the organization of festivals until mid-July 2020 due to the Covid-19 health crisis. 

For the first time in 75 years there will be no D-Day veterans on the beaches of Normandy to mark the anniversary of the landing.  See this website for a collection of videos and stories.

Fox News: One man lays wreaths in Normandy on unusual D-Day hit by coronavirus


  Retracing History

My parents went back to Normandy many years later for the 40^th anniversary observance.  He visited the grave of his commanding officer in the American Cemetery (shown to the left). Despite all his bravery, that sight moved him to tears.My husband and I returned to Omaha Beach and several historic sites in Normandy, France for the 60^th anniversary.

This was a very moving experience for us as well and it brought to life events which until then was just something we read about in history books.

That trip was in conjunction with a 12 Night British Isles / Norwegian Fjords cruise.   We arranged for a private tour with a local guide during which we walked on the beaches, visited all four of the cemeteries and other memorial sites.

Normandy Then & Now

The benefit of using a local guide was that we not only visited the various sites, but were also provided historical background, through images from 1944 so that we could experience Normandy in a totally different way.

Must See Sites

Our guide picked us from our ship in LeHarve early in the morning and returned us there in early evening.   He could have gone longer, but we were tired and decided to return to the ship instead of having dinner in Honfleur.


76th Anniversary Links:

D-Day 76th anniversary - 2020 - Normandy commemorations

76th Live

National D-Day Memorial

 

More Coverage  on Twitter      @ChrisPappinMCC

D-Day Landing - Arnhem (Groesbeek) - Liberation Museum

 

Powerful interactive exhibit on #DDay and #Normandy Invasion from @USNatArchives & @Google is available here: D-Day and the Normandy Invasion   

 

Explore artifacts, oral histories, and more from The National WWII Museum D-Day

In honor of this Anniversary of D-Day, we have verified links in our previous blog articles.  Visit our Shutterfly Share Page for our Normandy (D-Day) Photo Albums.

Read More on our Blog:

Normandy, France - Retracing History

Our tour started with visits to all three cemeteries:

The British Cemetery (Bayuex War Cemetary)
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
German Cemetery (La Cambe German Cemetery)

Normandy, France - Retracing History (Part 2)

Not far from  Normandy Beaches we stopped at:

Le Grand Bunker Museum 
Pegasus Bridge
 
Normandy, France - Retracing History (Part 3)

We concluded our Normandy visit with three destinations:
St Mere Eglise
Pointe du Hoc
Honfleur, France

D-Day      6 June 1944

The beaches were quiet the day we visited the Normandy Beaches unlike the early morning hours in 1944. I encourage you to include a visit to Normandy should your cruise call in LeHavre, France.  Bring the entire family, especially children, so that they can bring history to life.

 D-Day - A Critical Moment In History



Utah beach    Pointe du Hoc   Omaha beach    Gold beach   Juno beach   Sword beach

Some More D-Day References on the Web

Tuesday June 6, 1944 : minute per minute
Normandie Mémoire
National D-Day Mermorial Foundation

 

Coronavirus Resources

This post was originally posted as Coronavirus Travel Advice  during the early stages of the outbreak when people were wondering if their destination was on lock down or if their cruise line had cancelled their cruises.  

We are modifying this post to remove content which may be misinterpreted as suggesting traveling is safe.    W\e do have links to help people with travel booked for later in the year.  They will need to make decisions, if those decisions aren't made for you by the travel provider.

For example, most cruise lines are extending the 30 day shutdown.  

Put simply  #StaySafeStayHome   #SelfDistancing

Obviously, not everyone can stay home, so then use the guidelines posted on CDC & WHO (and other medical / government) sites.  We are home and here to help with any travel questions -- whether Covid-19  travel related or any future dreaming you might be doing. 

We are posting a daily "Where is Chris"  image for you to guess the destinations.  We encourage those with children to find ways to keep them engaged using travel related topics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan City. 

Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.

The following  video is very informative - worth watching.

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public

The World Health Organization has a website dedicated to Novel Coronavirus 2019.  The advice for the public, including those traveling, is very simple - and it is advice that should be followed all the time.

• Wash Your Hands Frequently
• Practice Respiratory Hygiene
• Maintain Social Distancing
• Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose & Mouth
• If you have Fever, Cough & Difficulty Breathing - Seek Medical Help
• Practice General Hygiene when visiting Live Animal Markets, Wet Markets or Animal Product Markets
• Avoid Consumption of Raw or Undercooked Animal Products

Protect Yourself & Others from Getting Sick

Click on Images Below To Enlarge

Additional Resources  

• WHO Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
• Updated WHO recommendations for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak
• CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus
• Travelers Returning from High Risk Countries (CDC)
• Mapping The Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (ESRI)
• Coronavirus Resource Center (John Hopkins)
• CDC Global Health - China
• Be Careful Where You Get Your News about Coronavirus (Harvard Medical)
• Ease Your Travel Fears Infographic
• John Hopkins - Coronavirus

Cruise Line Specific Resources   

These links are intended to help guests that may have travel booked for later in the year.  Cancellation policies are very dynamic - often changing daily depending on the current status of the pandemic.  Our recommendation is to stay current on those policies (we are here to help our guests).   In most cases, you can wait until 48 hours before scheduled travel to make any decision.   Hopefully things will return to normal later in the year, but for now just stay safe and informed.

• CLIA Statement on 2019-Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
• Coronavirus Updated Cruise Ship Polices & Cancellations
• COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel (CDC)
• Azamara Cruises Travel Alerts
• Carnival Health & Sailing Update
• Celebrity Cruises Travel Alerts
• Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus Advisories
• Holland America Line Travel Advisories
• Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Alerts
• Princess Cruises Notices & Advisories
• Princess Cruises Health Advisory on Coronavirus
• Royal Caribbean Travel Alerts

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Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat