I just returned from a 5-week trip to France where I visited with old friends and met new friends Gerald and Carol Hovelacque. I also attended two 78th Anniversary WW2 D-Day events – one in Somme and another in  Carentan (Normandy).

PART 1 Château de Tailly-l'Arbre-à-Mouches

The event in Somme to commemorate the landing of General Leclerc’s 2e DB Free French armored unit’s participation in the Allied invasion of northern France when they landed at Utah Beach on 1 August 1944 was held at Château de Tailly-l'Arbre-à-Mouches, the family home of General Leclerc located near Tailly, in the Somme department to the west of Amiens. Members of the family still live in the château.

A few of the re-enactors from the weekend. Note: I am the white hair in the back row — half hidden in the rose bush.

This annual event was organized by my good friend Sylvain Binet (first photo on the left, below) the president of Mémoire d’Alliés 1939-1945. Hundreds of re-enactors from across France assembled on the grounds adjacent to the chateau to realistically recreated with original equipment, uniforms, and vehicles a representation of the June  1944 military camp life. Great attention is given to authenticity creating a living history of WWII and sharing daily life. Uniforms and equipment are original or quality reproductions. And, yes I showered in a tent and I slept in a tent.

Despite the rain on Saturday crowds showed up to view Free French tanks and half-tracks and to remember the heroism and sacrifices of the brave men who liberated France in 1944.

That’s me dressed as a war correspondent with my driver.

Areas  near the campsite provide secluded venues for recreations of inland skirmishes and tank attacks.

 There was a steady stream of families and school children at this two-day event. Seventy-eight years later, a large number of the French population has vowed to never forget the lessons of World War II. The number of young people participating in and attending events such as this one gives hope that the value of freedom will be passed down to their children and their children’s children.