This afternoon, I have been watching (via TV) the D-Day ceremonies being held at the American Cemetery just off Omaha Beach in Normandy. President Obama is there, along with Prince Charles and Gordon Brown of the U.K. and Stephen Harper of Canada, hosted by France's Nicholas Sarkozy.
I decided to use Twitter to capture my impressions as the event was unfolding. I realize that watching it on television can't compare with being there, but I must admit I got rather choked up when I saw all the crosses (and stars) on the graves, and listening to some of the speeches. Rather than writing more here about what I witnessed, instead I decided to just reprint my Tweets (along with a few cross-Tweets with a friend who is actually THERE) without additional commentary:
I'm watching the
65th D-Day ceremonies on TV. Saw Sarko and Obama together. Obama's
official US helicopter landing at cemetery now.
Very moving to
see so many of the D-Day vets there, in full uniform, some in
wheelchairs, many smiling and laughing and even dancing!
Obama about to depart the helicopter...oh, there's Michelle... and the Prez!
She's wearing a white coat-dress with a silver belt. Elegant as usual. They are a truly striking-looking couple.
But WHY isn't BBC or CNN carrying this so I can hear it in English? I'm watching on the French TF1...
1st couple met and embraced by some veterans... American on French TV speaking badly accented French. Secret Service everywhere.
They're playing
such great 1940's-era music at the ceremonies while waiting for the 2
presidents and Prince Charles to arrive. Gotta love it
Totally wishing I
were in Normandy today for this. Will really need to get up there and
visit the American Cemetery and D-day sites soon.
Some Americans think the French don't remember what America has done to ensure France's freedom. Not true... esp. in Normandy.
Military band playing medley: Anchors Away, Halls of Montezuma...
... When the Caissons go Rolling Along... (taking me back to school days when we learned these songs)
The Obamas are
coming to Paris tonight... going to Notre Dame, then some kind of
official dinner, and then to the Centre Pompidou.
I think the
daughters are here with their parents as well. Good "educational" trip
for them to visit Paris, even if they miss school.
A very sad and
moving sight... all those white crosses on the perfectly manicured lawn
at the American Cemetery... rows and rows of them.
TV just said that 10,000 soldiers are buried there. TEN THOUSAND.
OK, a live feed available via France 24 here: http://bit.ly/ApatS
And CNN has some kind of live feed also: www.cnn.com and click the link on the Live Developing Story link. It looks to be delayed slightly
First ladies
Michelle and Carla escorting/escorted by some elderly vets. Very sweet.
Prince Charles, Gordon Brown & Canada's Harper there 2
Wow... the Dalai
Lama is also in Paris today, unrelated to Obama's visit and D-Day. Will
be hard getting around town tonight I think.
Now the 4 national anthems will be played and sung by a French choir, starting with the Marseillaise (bien sur)
And now the Star Spangled Banner... I'm standing.
Nice to see that Obama knows the words (it's astonishing how many Americans do NOT know the words!)
@k_sam Are you actually at the cemetery and ceremonies? Where are you now?
Sarkozy to Obama and the audience: "France will never forget"
Wishing these commentators would stop talking over Stephen Harper. Let the man speak and stop editorializing!
Ah, much better on BBC news... now Gordon Brown speaking.
k_sam
@TheBoldSoul yep, I am sitting in the audience.
I'm rather liking Gordon Brown's tribute... considering what's going on in his government this week, nice that he can be there
But wow, Prince Charles has AGED. I still picture him in my mind as the younger man he was when he and Diana got married.
Obama: "One word will still bring forth the pride of men and women... D-Day"
"When the ships landed at Omaha, the men went into an unimaginable hell..."
"By the end of the day, against all odds, the ground on which we stand was free once more..."
I like watching the faces of the veterans in the audience. THAT is where the history still lives.
Obama speaks of a veteran who visited the cemetery one last time last night... and then passed away in his sleep. God bless.
