In 1999 I cycled from Cherbourg to Boulonge, and visited most of the D Day beaches on the way.
Near Honfleur I met up with some British Airborne glider troops who were visiting the battle sites with some Belgian Jeeps.
After landing at Pegasus Bridge they had liberated Honfleur arriving on a stolen fire engine. The locals never noticed the few scruffy British red berets dossing down in the streets, but came out and celebrated next morning when the motorised Free Belgians arrived.
That evening I attended the War Memorial service in Honfleur, although I only had cycle gear to wear, the British and Belgian veterans needed to know that they were not forgotten.
I also visited the cemeteries at Omaha Beach for the Americans (see start of Saving Private Ryan) and Sword Beach for the British. On the British gravestones there was space for one line of text chosen by the families; so much love and loss.
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