Saint-Michel

2009 IS THE 65th ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY (WORLD WAR II)

STOP PRESS: Please do consider booking your accommodation early, there is extremely high demand.  sales@mont-saint-michel.co.uk

June 6th 1944 - D-Day.  150,000 Allied soldiers braved waves of machine gun fire and mines to reclaim the beaches of Normandy.

2009 is the 65th D-Day Anniversary with a program of events through-out Normandy, France.

If you are planning to make a visit to various WWII and D-Day beaches please note that it is highly likely that accommodation will be busy, it will help you to make enquiries early.

2009 D-DAY ANNIVERSARY EVENT INFORMATION - PROGRAM OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE D-DAY

INFORMATION GUIDE ONLY - Program of events may change. For more information, thank you for consulting the mayors of towns and villages concerned by these ceremonies.

June 1^st

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)

- 10:00 am: inauguration 

June 3^rd

Colleville-sur-Mer (14)
- 05:30 pm to 07:30 pm: free meetings with witnesses of the landing through a small pedestrian trip around the WN62 in Colleville-sur-Mer, the waterfront between Omaha Vierville-sur-Mer and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and hinterland. Reservations: 02.31.51.39.52.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 08:30 pm: at the hall, evening on the theme "The horses and war" from Hastings to the Chambois pocket with projection. Admission free.

June 4^th

Amfreville (14)
- 04:00 pm: official commemorative ceremony.

Colleville-sur-Mer (14)
- 05:30 pm to 07:30 pm: free meetings with witnesses of the landing through a small pedestrian trip around the WN62 in Colleville-sur-Mer, the waterfront between Omaha Vierville-sur-Mer and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and hinterland. Reservations: 02.31.51.39.52.

Gourbesville (50)
- 04:30 pm: official commemorative ceremony.

Pont-l'Abbé (50)
- 02:00 pm: commemorative ceremony at the monument of the 90th ID.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50)
- Night at the Museum of the Landing at Utah Beach, projection and conference (tel.: 0233715335).

Vierville-sur-Mer (14)
- 10:30 am: outdoor conference with testimonies at the monument of the American National Guard.

June 5^th

Anguerny (14)
- 06:00 pm: inauguration of a monument in honor of the Queen's Own Rifles regiment.

Arromanches (14)
- Late afternoon: inauguration of a monument in memory of the soldiers of the Royal Engineers at the orientation table.
- 11:00 pm: fireworks and lighting of the artificial harbor.

Bayeux (14)
- 02:00 pm: ecumenical ceremony at the British military cemetery (organized by the Comité du Débarquement).

Bénouville (14)
- Day: doors open at Pegasus Memorial.
- 11:00 pm: fireworks and lighting of the artificial harbor.

Bernières-sur-Mer (14)
- 05:00 pm: ceremony Place du 6 Juin: Colors ceremony, official speeches, flowers ceremony and troops parade (organized by the Comité du Débarquement).
- 06:30 pm: concert at the church.

Caen (14)
- 04:00 pm: commemorative ceremony with parade of the 3rd Infantry Division British at the Garden of Remembrance (Memorial de Caen).

Carentan (50)
- 02:00 pm: circuit with historic vintage vehicles.
- 03:00 pm: concert for Peace in Mangon square (City Hall) - Choir of 395 children.
- 05:30 pm: religious ceremony.

Chef-du-Pont (50)
- 01:00 pm: meals.
- 03h00 pm: official ceremonies.

Colleville-Montgomery (14)
- 10:30 am: parade and ceremony.

Colleville-sur-Mer (14)
- 05:30 pm to 07:30 pm: free meetings with witnesses of the landing through a small pedestrian trip around the WN62 in Colleville-sur-Mer, the waterfront between Omaha Vierville-sur-Mer and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and hinterland. Reservations: 02.31.51.39.52.

Courseulles-sur-Mer (14)
- 09:00 am: ceremony of Remembrance at the monument of the Winnipeg Rifles.
- 04:00 pm: ceremony at the Juno Beach Center (organized by the Comité du Débarquement).

Frénouville (14)
- 08:00 pm: Norman resistance conference Jean Quellien, Dean of the Faculty of History of Caen, author of books on the war, including acts of resistance by Dr. Derrien and derailments of Airan. At the Chapel of Poirier.

Gonneville-en-Auge (14)
- 04:30 pm: ceremonies at the 9th battalion crossroads.

Le Mesnil-Patry (14)
- 08:00 pm: commemoration ceremony.

Merville (14)
- 05:30 pm: commemorative ceremony at the battery.
- 11:00 pm: fireworks.

Montebourg (50)
- 05:00 pm: commemorative ceremony at the square of the 4th Infantry Division.

Négreville (50)
- 02:00 pm: inauguration of a C-47 monument at Rouville.
- 03:00 pm: inauguration of an information panel.

Orglandes (50)
- 09:30 am: official ceremony at the German cemetery.

Picauville (50)
- 10:30 am: ceremony and inauguration of a C-47 USAAF model at the monument (near the Church).
- 07:00 pm: lunch (by the association "Picauville remembers")

Quinéville (50)
- 04:00 pm: ceremony followed by a parade through the streets of the town to the stele of the 39th Infantry Regiment.

Ranville (14)
- 08:45 am: drop of a British paratroopers battalion (400 para).
- 03:30 pm: ceremony at the British military cemetery.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50)
- 08:00 pm: animations (videos, music concert) at the museum of the landing at Utah Beach, then fireworks.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 08:00 am: military sales at the covered market.

Saint-Vaast-en-Auge (14)
- 03:00 pm: ceremony of remembrance for the eleven British soldiers and Canadian soldiers killed on June 6, 1944 in the village. At the cemetery, the Church, the memorial and then at the town hall.

Utah Beach (50)
- 08:00 pm: entertainment (movies, music concert IMP) to the museum.
- 11:00 pm: fireworks on the site of Utah Beach.

June 6^th

Amay-sur-Orne (14)
- 05:00 pm: meeting at the stadium between students of the Amay-sur-Orne school and Welsh Veterans with which they correspond.

Angoville-au-Plain (50)
- 10:30 am: official ceremony.

Arromanches (14)
- 11:00 am: outdoor mass near the museum.
- 12:00 am: commemorative ceremony and wreath-laying ceremony at the Museum of the landing.

Asnelles (14)
- 09:00 am: great walk from Asnelles to Port-en-Bessin on the footsteps of British soldiers who liberated Port-en-Bessin.

Bayeux (14)
- 11:30 am: commemorative ceremony at the British Cemetery and reception of 800 British veterans.

Bénouville (14)
- 12:30 am: parade from Pegasus Bridge to the City Hall.
- 12:45 am: ceremony at the esplanade Major Howard.
- 01:00 pm: Pegasus Bridge crossing on foot.
- 01:05 pm: religious ceremony at the monument of the town hall.

Bernières-sur-Mer (14)
- 08:00 am: ceremony at the House of the Canadians.
- 10:00 pm: ceremony and wreath-laying ceremony at the House of the Canadians.

Bonneville-les-Loubets (14)
- 09:00 am: parade of vintage vehicles at Bonneville and the participating villages of the Canton of Blangy Le Chateau. Commemorations at the war monuments of each municipalities.
- 07:00 pm: dinner with American landing retrospective on the big screen.

Courseulles-sur-Mer (14)
- 02:30 pm: ecumenical religious ceremony at American Cemetery.

Condé-sur-Vire (50)
- 10:00 am: remembrance mass.
- 11:00 am: ceremony at the war monument.
- 11:30 am: ceremony at the monument in memory of the fallen U.S. soldiers in Condé-sur-Vire.
- 12:00 am: cocktail.

Courseulles-sur-Mer (14)
- 11:00 am: inauguration of a stele at the Juno Beach Center dedicated to the Canadian Navy.

Creuilly (14)
- 11:00 am: commemorative ceremony at the memorial of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, place Winston Churchill.

Hémevez (50)
- 11:00 am: ceremony at the cemetery.

Isigny-sur-Mer (14)
- 07:00 pm: giant picnic and free concert in the park of the City Hall.

Lisieux (14)
- 08:30 pm: concert at the Basilica of Bayeux (entrance free) as part of the 65th anniversary of D-Day by the Ensemble Vocal de Lisieux Gabriel Fauré and choirs of Charentonne de Bernay, with the Symphony Orchestra of Lisieux. In program: Requiem by Gabriel Fauré and Concerto for Flute and Harp by Mozart. Directed by Louis Muckenturm.

Longueville (14)
- 10:00 am: assembly of the vehicles convoy and departure to Omaha on the D514 (Englesqueville-la-Percée then Deux Jumeaux and Longueville).
- 04:00 pm: commemorative ceremony at the war monument.

Merville (14)
- 09:00 am: ceremony in honor of the 9th Parachute Battalion.

Néhou (50)
- 03:00 pm: ceremony at the Camp Patton and inauguration of a freedom terminal.

Ouistreham (14)
- Time to be confirmed: ceremony at the war monument and at the cemetery.

Putot-en-Auge (14)
- 06:30 pm: religious English ceremony, ceremony at the 32 graves where lie their comrades, national anthems, wreath-laying ceremony, speeches by Major Watson.

Ranville (14)
- 09:00 am: wreath-laying ceremony at the June 6 crossroads.
- 11:00 am: ceremony at the British military cemetery.

Saint-Charles-de-Percy (14)
- 10:45 am: ceremony at the British military cemetery.

Saint-Côme-du-Mont (50)
- 11:00 am: inauguration of a monument in homage to the 2nd Lieutenant George E. Schmidt of the 2/501st PIR.

Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (14)
- 03:30 pm: wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of the June 6th crossroads.
- 07:00 pm: picnic Normandy Day.
- 11:30 pm: fireworks.

Saint-Martin-de-Varreville (50)
- 09:00 am: ceremony to soldiers lost at sea on June 6, 1944.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50)
- 11:00 am: ceremony at the U.S. Navy monument.
- 03:00 pm: official ceremony at La Madeleine.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 11:00 am: parade of Harley Davidson "Dukes of Normandy Organization, Chapter-Rouen" (120 motorcycles) on the site of the Church.
- 12:00 am: Lunch Normandy Day on the place of the Church with the orchestra Cocktail Swing.
- 02:00 pm: ceremony for Peace at the Borne 0.
- 04:00 pm: music on the camp MVCG Bretagne (horse field).
- 05:00 pm: official ceremonies on the Church place
- 06:00 pm: Concert for Peace at the Church.
- 08:00 pm: music on the Church square.
- 11:00 pm: fireworks and ball on the Church square.

Tilly-sur-Seulles (14)
- Evening (time to be confirmed): concert of the Liberation.

Tournières (14)
- 10:00 amp: commemorative ceremony at the monument erected in memory of General Einsenhower.

Ver-sur-Mer (14)
- 09:00 am: commemorative ceremony at the memorial of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, place Winston Churchill.
- 11:15 am: commemorative ceremony at the memorial of the 2nd Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment.
- 11:45 am: commemorative ceremony to the stele dedicated to civilian casualties.

 June 7^th

Bayeux (14)
- 10:00 am: static display of vintage vehicles, place Despallières Gauquelin.
- 03:00 pm: parade of vintage vehicles in the historical center of Bayeux.

Bénouville (14)
- 03:30 pm: ceremony at the No. 4 Commando monument.

Bretteville-sur-Laize (14)
- 10:30 am: ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery.

Caen (14)
- 07:00 pm: bilingual opening ceremony and inauguration of the plaque "We remember" at the entrance of the Lycée Victor Lépine, rue Lépine Victor.

Carentan (50)
- 02:00 pm: circuit in vintage vehicles.
- 03:00 pm: Choir Méautis (place de la République).
- 04:30 pm: reconstitution of the fightings after the landing, place de la République. Commemorative ceremony in presence of veterans.
- 05:00 pm: concert Holland American Legion Band, downtown.
- 05:30 pm: departure of the Brothers in Arms March (18 km walk in the footsteps of American paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division (tel. 0233712350).

Cintheaux (14)
- 10:30 am: ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery.

Esquay-Notre-Dame (14)
- 11:00 am: wreath-laying ceremony at the hill 112.

Honfleur (14)
- 11:00 am: ceremony Quai de la Quarantine, national anthems and wreath-laying ceremony.

La Fière (50)
- 01:00 pm: massive air drop near the bridge (subject to weather).
- 04:00 pm: ceremonies at the memorial.

Lingèvres (50)
- 11:00 am: commemorative ceremony at the Memorial of the 50th Division in memory of the Durham Light Infantry, the Essex Regiment and the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.

Périer-sur-le-Dan (14)
- 11:00 am: commemorative ceremony attended by veterans, local elected officials and about 200 soldiers. At the town hall.

Port-en-Bessin-Huppain (14)
- 01:00 pm: large picnic open to everyone, with music, on the banks of the landing harbor.

Saint-Côme-du-Mont (50)
- 09:00 am: departure of the Brothers in Arms March.
- 10:00 am: ceremony in tribute to Joe Beyrle, place de l'Eglise, with his excellency the Ambassador of the United States and 506th PIR (Easy Company) Veterans.
- 10:00 am: parade of military vehicles and extras to the Dead Man's Corner Museum.

Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay (14)
- 09:30 am: inauguration of a stele at the Beauvoir farm.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 09:30 am: ceremony at the monument near the stadium.
- 10:00 am: outdoor memorial mass of the 65th anniversary chaired by the Bishop of Coutances and Avranches.
- 05:00 am: Veterans and paratroopers arrival on the Church square.

Tilly-sur-Seulles (14)
- 09:30 am - 07:00 pm: book fair of the Battle of Normandy (with a dozen of publishers, nearly 40 authors and a dozen of booksellers and bookstores).
- 04:00 pm: ceremony instead of the Essex Regiment in the presence of many veterans.
- 04:45 am: ceremonies at Saint-Pierre des Bois for the Rangers and the Durham Light Infantry.

Verrières (50)
- 10:00 am: commemorative ceremony at the monument of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.

June 8^th

Bretteville-l'Orgeuilleuse (14)
- 07:00 pm: wreath-laying ceremony on the Canadians place.

Isigny-sur-Mer (50)
- 11:00 am: mass in memory of the civilian casualties at the Saint-Georges church.
- 12:15 am: wreath-laying ceremony at the war monument.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 05:00 pm: parade of the 65th anniversary by the MVCG and static display on the Church square.

Sainte-Lô (50)
- 11:00 am: commemorative ceremony at the Major Howie Rond Point with veterans of the 29th Infantry Division.

Tilly-sur-Seulles (14)
- 10:45 am: arrival of a convoy of 25 vehicles of the "Gold Beach 60 years on" and reconstitution of the liberation of the town center.

Trungy (14)
- 10:30 am: passage of a military convoy to the parking lot of City Hall.
- 11:00 am: reconstitution of the liberation of the town center.

June 9^th

Lison (50)
- 11:00 am: ceremony at the Lison stele in remembrance of the military hospital.

June 13^th

Vierville-sur-Mer (14)
Visits of Omaha Beach organized for people with disabilities. Presentation of the chronology of the June 6 by a witness of D-Day. Starting at the parking of the monument of the National Guard. Tel. : 0231513952 (OTI OMAHA BEACH).
- 10:00 - 12:00 am: motor disability.
- 02:00 - 04:00 pm: for the blind and / or visually impaired (Braille sign on the beach). 

June 18^th

Barneville-Carteret (50)
- 06:00 pm: commemorative ceremony in the presence of veterans and elected officials.

Ouistreham (14)
- To be confirmed: ceremony of the June 18 Call, Place de Gaulle.

Tilly-sur-Seulles (14)
- To be confirmed: broadcasting of archival films at the festival hall and ceremony for civilian victims, Rue du 18 juin.

June 20^th

Montormel (50)
- 02:30 pm: guided tour (starting at Memorial Montormel) on the battlefield with a guide, civilians and military veterans of the Hill 262.

June 20^th

Montormel (50)
- 02:30 pm: guided tour (starting at Memorial Montormel) on the battlefield with a guide, civilians and military veterans of the Hill 262.

We thank ddayoverlord.com for all of the information provided above.