There may not be many people left to give a first-hand account of the much-anticipated French liberation, but June 6th 1944 will always be a landmark date for the people of Normandy. The D-Day Landings, Battle of Normandy, French Liberation and restoration of peace: encounters, legacies and commemorations keep the memory alive throughout the generations. Excerpts from Normandy ambassadors who were interviewed for the occasion.
D-Day Tributes: Honouring Normandy’s Heroes
“What does this date and symbolic time in history mean to you, to Normandy?” That’s the simple and open question that several Normandy ambassadors answered for us with a few lines and a lot of feeling. Isabelle paid tribute “to veterans and our elders,” reminding us that without them and the help of the Allies, “we wouldn’t have regained the freedom we have today.” The adopted Manche resident Véronique also paid tribute her way, connecting historical periods between the Vikings landing in France in the 9th century to the D-Day Landings in 1944. Véronique moved into a house in the ancient Viking village of Le Mesnil Tôve in 2019 (“tove” means “rope” in Danish), where she found a poster by the STO (compulsory work service) under the wallpaper in one of the rooms as well as a coded message from the Resistance in one of the cupboards. “A real conqueror at work like the English and Americans who saved us and died during the Mortain counter-attack. “
1944 also marked the end of the war between two neighbouring countries in Europe. This commemoration celebrates both the importance of brotherhood and reconciliation. These words hit home for Tanaquil, married Marcus Walthaner from Germany, in 2017. “The 80th anniversary means so much to me in terms of reconciliation, brotherhood and the foundation of Europe! “
The 80th anniversary continues to recall stories lived or told, just like these Normans from the Côte Fleurie who Valérie wanted to honour. The story of a young couple who were separated by the war: he was sent to a German camp and she stayed at home with their little girl. He managed to escape, hiding deep in a French forest and became a woodcutter. “His wife found out and never told a soul, not even her daughter, so the police and soldiers wouldn’t have any clues to go off. She secretly visited him to bring him food, clothes and soap. The family weren’t reunited until the end of the war and they settled in Normandy.
Normans and D-Day
Isabelle and her students, childhood memories from Gérald, Michel and real-life stories: the war has left its mark on the generations and the years. Ambassadors have lots of exciting tales and family stories to tell!
Meet & greets
Commemorations are often a change for people to get together… from all over the world. Just take Sébastien, an ambassador for Normandy who now lives in Australia. He saw Queen Elizabeth II on June 6th 1984 on the Abbaye aux Hommes forecourt: “she had come to pay her respects at her ancestor’s tomb, “our” famous William the Conqueror… a childhood memory I will never forget,” says Sébastien, who was 7 at the time.
It’s always emotional when you get to meet the freedom fighters for real and pay tribute to them. One example is when Valérie hosted John Bistrica from the Big Red One, the first unit to land on Omaha Beach, on the 50th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.
“John told us things you can only hear from a veteran who has been through it, every last detail.
We stayed in touch after 1994 until he passed away. I now write to his son. We’re bound by real friendship. “
Léa from Pays de Caux experienced the same emotions when she met Léon Gautier during her vocational diploma in Saint-Lô. She interviewed one of the last Frenchmen to have landed with the Commando Kieffer, the only French Marine Commando Fusiliers. “An incredible experience and so far away from our everyday life; he was younger than us when he was part of D-Day. “
Passing the Baton: Keeping D-Day Memories Alive
Despite the burden of time, events like these must never be forgotten. Freedom festival, commemorations, stories… memories are passed down through the generations so they don’t fade into oblivion. Remembrance and values that won over Achille, a 13 year old with a passion for D-Day. He pays tribute his way with his father every weekend:
- “he picks a cemetery from a map of military cemeteries in Calvados that he drew;
- we get on our bikes and ride to the cemetery;
- when we get there, he puts a little flag in front of a tomb in row 26 or 6 (his birthday is 26/6).
- We pay our respects at the tomb and visit the site;
- we take a photo of him in front of the cemetery
- and the following week we visit another cemetery. “
Besides his memories of the Queen of England, Sébastien has to battle an 8-hour time difference in Australia to keep history alive on D-Day. “We’re going to watch the 80th anniversary events live with our three children: 16 year old Mathilde, 13 year old Augustin and 9 year old Jules. We will invite people from Normandy to join us.”
D-Day around the world
Lots of ambassadors got together around the world on June 6th 2024, 80 years after the D-Day Landings. It’s a time for Normans to get together:
- In Australia: Crêpe dinner with Sébastien to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.
- In Seoul: food and local cider in South Korea with Bérangère.
- In Dubai: Meal showcasing French regions with Christophe Prud’homme.
- In New York: Celebrate the 80th anniversary on June 6th at the Consulate with Sylvie.
Thematics
