Well, this will be a highlight for sure. I did a lot of poking around and the powers of persistence paid off.
I got confirmation of the passes this morning. We will be at the American Cemetery for the commemorations ceremony.
yay!
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SkywalkerBeth |
June 6 - I got passes to the ceremony where Obama and Sarkozy will speak! |
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Posts: 1112 (05/27/09 10:30:11) |
Hi everyone
Well, this will be a highlight for sure. I did a lot of poking around and the powers of persistence paid off. I got confirmation of the passes this morning. We will be at the American Cemetery for the commemorations ceremony. yay! |
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simone1a |
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Posts: 4943 (05/27/09 11:39:57) Destination Moderator |
You are going with your Dad, right?
That is wonderful. The kind of stuff you remember for many, many years. Have a good trip.
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Nikki in Massachusetts |
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Posts: 909 (05/27/09 13:38:14) |
Looking forward to the pictures of you with the heads of state.
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TheRealDoctorLew |
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Posts: 744 (05/27/09 14:25:27) Member |
I thought they wanted to be inpictures with you!
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SkywalkerBeth |
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Posts: 1113 (05/27/09 15:47:53) |
Thanks!
I get the sense that few will be within hand-shaking distance let alone photo taking distance. In fact, they disallow large cameras (whatever "large" means - is an SLR large?). At any rate, this is great news and Dad is really excited. |
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ChinaCat00 |
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Posts: 4056 (05/27/09 16:59:46) Administrator |
think of large as "big enough to disguise a small handweapon". I think an SLR would qualify. I imagine cellphone, and little square p&s cameras
is all they will allow.
Anyways, this sounds really cool. Can't wait to hear about your trip! |
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elainesl |
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Posts: 12541 (05/27/09 19:06:09) Board Moderator |
Wonderful! If it's not top secret, how did you do it? A favor from a friend? A lottery? Through the Embassy? |
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SkywalkerBeth |
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Posts: 1114 (05/27/09 19:26:22) |
Elaine, I can network like no one's business.
I contacted my representative here in VA, I had friends asking friends at the State Department (that didn't go anywhere, the guy was out of town and still isn't back yet), then I contacted the the Comite du Debarquement who passed me to the Attache Consulaire in Rennes.. and they passed me back to another department in the State Dept who asked for my details and that of Dad's and asked me to explain briefly our involvement in D-Day. Well, Dad isn't a vet but my deceased great-uncle was at St. Lo... I also explained to them that I wanted to show my Dad some of the things that are important to me while he's still young and chipper and voila, passes. |
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Jujuju2 |
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Posts: 941 (05/28/09 00:26:22) |
Awwwwww, that is just wonderful for you and Dad.
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KirRoyale |
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Posts: 221 (06/06/09 15:59:52) |
SW Beth - have been thinking about you all day today. Cannot wait for you to post about your experience.
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simone1a |
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Posts: 4953 (06/06/09 17:29:34) Destination Moderator |
I have to admit that I have also been thinking of you and your Dad all day. I hope you were able to take at least your point and shoot camera.
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elainesl |
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Posts: 12567 (06/06/09 17:42:29) Board Moderator |
here's hoping Beth checks in with us soon.
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SkywalkerBeth |
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Posts: 1117 (06/09/09 11:36:10) |
Hi everyone
Back from France. Quick update: We didn't go to the ceremonies after all. I left the final decision up to my Dad and that was his choice, as much as we both wanted to go. The ceremony at the American Cemetery was set to be from 1500 to 1630. But, they wanted the attendees to be at the central meeting point (Caen expo center) before 9 AM. It was not permitted to just drive to the Cemetery, what's more, the main road (N13) was blocked off as well as a few side roads. The shuttle was to pick everyone up and at some point in the morning drive to the Cemetery. We were there Friday and saw the many, many chairs that were set up. Very little shade. There is no food or drink allowed on Cemetery grounds, which is perfectly understandable. Whatever food the attendess may have packed for the day must be consumed beforehand - they stated it was an all day event and "please plan accordingly". (my question is, how? If you can't leave without the shuttle and there is no food/water provided nor allowed, what can you do?) My own 68 yr old Dad is diabetic and has to eat regularly and if his sugar happens to drop he needs to eat something NOW. What about the 85+ year old vets who probably have other health issues? Had we been in Normandy even a few more days longer we may have considered it, but we arrived on Thursday after lunch and then had the full day Friday to sightsee, with Sunday AM finding us on the road to Paris. Reluctantly we decided it may be more enjoyable to just spend Saturday sightseeing. I found out later that Tom Hanks was there (I figured he would be there actually) and Prince Charles attended as well. A few people at the Chilcotts did go, but they were spending 2 full weeks there - they had their doubts about the whole thing but did enjoy it despite the 12 hour day (left before 830 AM, back after 8 PM). It also started to rain (the first of the trip!) about 5 PM or so. They stood in the rain for 2 hours apparently. Overall the weather was perfect the whole time. Saturday night it rained, Sunday was perfect again until about 5 PM and then it rained again briefly. Monday dawned with sun and blue skies. Two evenings of rain on an entire trip - not bad! |
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ChinaCat00 |
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Posts: 4070 (06/09/09 13:57:39) Administrator |
it's too bad you couldn't go to the ceremonies, but I think i would have made the same decision (and I'm not 68 years old or diabetic). It would
have been a long, hard day.
looking forward to hearing the good parts of the trip though. And pictures! we want pictures |
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SkywalkerBeth |
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Posts: 1118 (06/09/09 14:59:13) |
CC, the trip was just great.
Dad and I had a great week. Our time in Normandy (3 nights) saw us up and down the coast, visiting different towns and beaches and memorials and cemeteries and meeting some vets too. He really enjoyed Paris and in our three days there we walked about 20 miles (even with a metro carnet!) and he really enjoyed Fougeres castle - and especially Mont St Michel - he couldn't get over it. We ate a lot of good food and I was really glad to spend the time with my Dad. I'll have a report (promise! I even have much of it written) and will sort photos this week/wkd. In fact I will put one up shortly, hang on... |
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simone1a |
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Posts: 4967 (06/09/09 19:37:53) Destination Moderator |
I can certainly understand that. I am a diabetic, no food, can't go - there is no choice. I am sure you had a good time nonetheless. I saw one of your
pictures and it is a beauty, can't wait for the rest.
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KirRoyale |
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Posts: 223 (06/09/09 21:36:47) |
Wow - no food - that would certainly be a big concern for anyone with health issues, and sounds like it would have been a very long day. Completely understand
your decision. Sounds like you had a lovely time with your dad, and that is the most important thing. Welcome back!
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Gardenridge |
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Posts: 2447 (06/10/09 11:18:20) |
I was in a situation nothing like yours where we were entertainers for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremonies. I left home at 5 am, and didn't get back
till evening. Same rule: no food or drink, no purses or anything carried (images might be taken of us for PR). We were housed in a gym at a local school. It
was a horrible situation, and we certainly didn't feel valued. Someone should have thought to have it catered somehow, and we assumed that we'd be fed
and "watered." Some people had thought it through, and went to the school ahead of time with boxes of food and water for themselves (they shared when
they realized what a horrible situation it was.) I hadn't even thought to tuck in money in my shoe for the few vending machines in the school.
I can't believe that they would ask veterans to do the same, and why would they be surprised about health issues at their age? This is so disrespectful; I feel very angry for him. |
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SkywalkerBeth |
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Posts: 1122 (06/10/09 13:57:06) |
I thought the whole thing was strange! This is supposed to be about the veterans and look how they treated them.
I was told (at the B&B) by a vet who visits each year (he is British) that at the 60th two entire busloads of veterans were detained due to traffic issues for two hours and missed the entire ceremony. How sad - to think they came so far for that, too. |
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elainesl |
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Posts: 12577 (06/12/09 10:33:51) Board Moderator |
Did you ever notice that sometimes "plan accordingly" is just another way of more rudely saying "Deal with it!" Problem is, planning
sometimes has nothing to do with it, if you are physically unable to deal with it. And you'd think, for aging veterans, there's be some sort of plan to
accommodate their needs.
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