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Each year hundreds of U.S. armed forces members stationed in Europe, and from U.S.-based units with historical links to D-Day, join service members and civilians from all over Europe to recognize and honor the men and women of the "Greatest Generation" by performing music, marching in parades and honoring the deeds and sacrifices of allied nations during the commemorative period of 1-9 June in the region of Normandy, France. The anniversary of D-Day remains a historic reminder of the strong and unremitting relationship between the United States and our European allies and partners.
Event: "Memories of France" movie at the Airborne Museum
Expected Units: Special Operations Command-Europe, 503rd Military Police Battalion, U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command, 509th Infantry Regiment, 75th Ranger Regiment, Airborne Ranger Training Brigade
Significance: The movie "Let Freedom Ring: Memories of France" will be shown followed by a question and answer forum with a D-Day subject matter expert
Event: Alexander Renaud Ceremony
Expected Units: 82nd Airborne Division
Details: Mayor Alexander Renaud organizes a commemorative event each year to show admiration and gratitude to the American Soldiers who liberated Sainte-Mere-Eglise on D-Day
Event: Sainte-Mere-Eglise Church Service
Details: Service members will join citizens in the pews flanked by jewel-colored, stained-glass windows depicting scenes of paratroopers surrounding the Virgin Mary, during a service in one of the first towns liberated by American troops on D-Day
Event: Airborne Monument Ceremony
Details: This monument pays tribute to the heroic Allied paratroopers of the D-Day landings including the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, British 6th Airborne Division and Canadian 1st Parachute Battalion
Event: Three Temporary Cemeteries
Details: To honor the 14,000 Americans who fell fighting for the liberation of Normandy. The fallen were temporarily interred in three cemeteries in Sainte-Mere-Eglise.
Event: Signal Monument
Details: The signal monument on the village square honors the paratroopers of the two airborne divisions who liberated Sainte-Mere-Eglise on D-Day.
Event: Airborne Operation Pre-Jump Training
Expected Units: 82nd Airborne Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Special Operations Command-Europe, U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, 75 Ranger Regiment, Airborne Ranger Training Brigade, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 18th Airborne Corps, U.S. Air Force, 101st Airborne Division, 1st Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 29th Infantry Division, 90th Sustainment Brigade, and distinguished visitors
Details: Pre-jump training for all participants of the Commemorative Airborne Operation on June 9
Event: Parade from Hotel Deville Hall to Town Square
Expected Units: Special Operations Command-Europe, 82nd Airborne Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Airborne Ranger Training Brigade
Significance: To honor the Soldiers of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, who jumped on drop zone “O” near Sainte-Mere-Eglise. The Soldiers destroyed several tanks and cut off the enemy, holding their ground against two consecutive German counter assaults.
Event: Commemorative Airborne Operation
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