The US Army Military Parade I attended in June was lit! People jammed the street, cheering as the military band play marching music. The crowd cheered as the tanks, ½ tracks, trucks jeeps rolled into town, accompanied by multiple units marching alongside the armor. The crowds waited for hours in the on and off again weather, enjoying each other’s company, and the popular music from the band stand. Beer and good cheer flowed among the enthusiastic young and old spectators. When the parade started, everyone surged to the barriers and cheered the paratroopers, tankers, medics, transportation units from a US Army.
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The parade was on June 8, 2025, in St. Mere Englis Normandy France. For two weeks folks from all over Europe attended events, ceremonies, reenactments, military demonstrations, history lessons, cemeteries, museums, memorials, battle sites throughout the Cotentin Peninsula. Each town and area with their own liberation story. Although this was an off year, the 81st anniversary of the Liberation triggered by D-Day, the streets, venues and area was crowded. Except for a few paratrooper platoons, all the other participates in the parade were European civilians, displaying their restored vehicles and accurate vintage uniforms. Mixed in the crowed people in period customs mingled with folks and active duty paratroopers. Their cheers were loud for the Liberation of St. Mere Englis.
Picture from SME, 8 June, 2025.
Earlier in the week a local provided me coordinates for the best place to view the mass airborne jump on June 8. I arrived at the coordinates early on the morning of the jump with family, expecting an empty field. The hilltop field was already peppered with families, on blankets and chairs, picnicking and visiting, there to spend the day with a great view of the landing zone (LZ) in the valley below. Vendors providing coffee, pastries and lunches were near the opening of the hedgerow along the road. As the morning went on the field filled up with picknickers. About every 15 minutes a few vintage C-47 flew over dropping sticks of paratrooper on the LZ. The days leading up to the jump had been raining, windy and dangerous to jump, but on this morning, the sky was peppered scattered with clouds, the winds slight and the sun warm. A perfect day for a jump.
As I stood on the hill I could see the La Fiere Memorial across the valley where the official viewing stands were for the day’s Jump event. From my vantage point I could see where the 3-day battle for the La Fiere Bridge was fought by the 1/505 PIR with elements 2/508 and 507 PIR, 101 4th Armor, 325th Infantry, 746th Tank Bn, 401st GIR fighting in the final actions to hold the bridge and prevented German 91st Army from reenforcing the defense at Utah Beach. As I stood looking out on the beautiful scene of a terrific battle, I realized I was standing on Hill 30, the first blooding and battle site for my father’s unit, 2/508 PIR. As the morning progressed, a line of 9, C-130 Hercules made multiple sorties from Cherbourg, dropping hundreds of paratroopers from allied countries. As the planes flew overhead, dropping paratroopers, filling the sky with parachutes, I yelled “AIRBOURNE!” In my head the voice of my father responded. “All the Way,” and I whispered, “and then some Dad.”
If you want to see high energy parade and enthusiastic crowds celebrating the Liberation of their continent from fascism and appreciation of US Military, go to Normandy. The spirit of 1944 is alive and well in the hearts of the decedents of those who lived under the tyranny of Nazis.
Picture, June 8, 2025, from Hill 30.
