Post D-day video showing paratroopers in stained glass

[uppityperson]

This church is in Sainte Mere Eglise, Normandy, France. It was one of the the first liberated towns, with paratroopers dropping in. It is in the movie "The Longest Day" with Red Buttons playing the role of John Steele, the paratrooper who got caught on the church steeple. I'm not a fan of the music but there are a bunch of fine pictures there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO-kB--T12Y

They still have a statue of John Steele hanging by the steeple, with paratroopers in 1 of the largest stained glass windows, and badges of which military people helped liberate the area in another of the stained glass windows. The stained glass windows are at the beginning, and about 2:10. At 2:10-:20 and 3:45 you may notice a grey rock pillar with a ball on it, a bit to the left of center in front of the church. This is from Roman times.

The town is going to be part of the large 65th anniversary celebration Sat, including one of my young relatives being 1 of the 9 school kids who get to read parts during the ceremony. Of course my relatives are hoping President Obama, Sarko, Brown and the Prince all come, but it will be quite a deal at any rate.

65 yrs ago the Germans looked out to sea and saw the armada. 65 yrs ago the paratroopers dropped from the sky, many to land in flooded fields and drown. 65 yrs ago the active liberation of Europe began. I find it incredible that it has only been that long, and that it has been that long.

[uppityperson]

1. d-day video, showing ships, etc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPU4p7UQOtU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzEdHiC09c

[Thrill]

2. How many times tommorrow will we hear how great Raygun was

at his D-Day Speech?

[elocs]

3. One of my favorite scenes in "The Longest Day" was just before the ships came over the horizon.

First there was nothing, but then when the German on the beach takes a second look it was just as the ships came into view over the horizon. Boom, boom, boom....boommmm.

My Dad was a heavy machinegunner and he landed on Omaha Beach. I have a letter he wrote to his Dad that night and it wasn't long, but it did say that "you almost had one less son today". After seeing "Saving Private Ryan" I am surprised that he ever got off that beach unwounded. I'm proud that he was part of the greatest armada in the history of the world.

[elleng]

6. Thanks to your Dad and all.

:patriot: :grouphug: :loveya:

[uppityperson]

7. Thank your father for what he did

He was very much appreciated and what a thing to go through

[DearAbby]

4. Very moving

and the stain glass windows...I had no idea.

[uppityperson]

5. They were very happy to have their old ones destroyed

great grampa of the child who will speak tomorrow was part of the Resistance. Got caught, made to dig a ditch with a bunch of other prisoners. Managed to get away before getting shot and buried in that ditch with the others.

While the invading/occupying Germans did bring water, phones and sewer to the area, the local people were still very very very very very glad to see them gone.