2014 Marks 70-Year Anniversary of D-Day

Happy New Year, blog readers! 2014 has arrived and while the start of a new year is always a chance for a fresh start and a look towards the future, it is also serves as a reminder of significant historical events. This year happens to mark the 70^th anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy and, more specifically, D-Day. On June 6^th, 1944, many heroic men sacrificed their lives to storm the beaches of Normandy in an attempt to liberate German-held villages throughout the region. After a valiant effort, the Allied Forces successfully brought about the liberation of these villages and marked the beginning of the end of World War II.

To both mourn the losses of this day and celebrate this heroic feat, numerous events are to be held both in Normandy and in a variety of other regions and cities in Europe.  The events taking place within Normandy include art installations, an International Peace Walk, the inauguration of The Liberty Tree, featuring 70 testimonials from 70 Normandy landing witnesses, numerous ceremonies at D-Day monuments all over the region, parachuting, fireworks, and more! The biggest event of them all, however, is the annual D-Day Parade which takes place on June 6^th in Sainte-Mère-Eglise, the first town to be liberated in the Normandy Invasion. This year, the town will be commemorating the day from early morning until late night, with the parade beginning at 2:00PM with an American concert. At 4:00PM, the parade will begin, packed not only with people attending to pay their respects to those who fought on this day, but also with over 1,200 musicians! The day will end with a Peace Concert to be held at the church of Sainte-Mère-Eglise. It will truly be a day to remember. The events don’t stop there, though – the invasion will continue to be acknowledged in a multitude of respectful and exciting ways throughout the summer months and beyond.

Whether the opportunity arises to play as part of the parade or not, a trip to Normandy is 2014 is sure to be the experience of a lifetime.

What better way to kick off 2014 than becoming a part of history! Check out our website for more information on planning your next trip to Europe.

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