Actually, the entire parade was WWII re-inactors.  Before our final concert in the village of Carentan, (I’m guessing about the size of Zeeland, Michigan) we had the good fortune of witnessing the Liberation Parade.  This was more of a military review than parade.  The narrow sidewalks lining the narrow streets were full of local french citizens celebrating the liberation while the 16-22ish year old re-inactors marched in formation with fully equipped vintage jeeps and small tanks.  Change the clothing worn by observers and remove a few contemporary cars from the street and we might just as well been in 1944.

I’m sure that I have never seen Old Glory waving in as many places as I’ve seen the past two days or the Star Spangled Banner played as frequently.  I can honestly say the people of Normandy, France could do Memorial Day and the 4th of July way better than we’ve ever done in the United States!

http://www.ot-carentan.fr/iso_album/carentan_3v_dday_65th.pdf

If you look close on the program listed above you can see our concert listed on June 7.

We started our day today by placing flowers at the graves of ten Michigan service men on the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur Mer situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach. While experiencing the amazing power of the perfectly straight crosses and impeccably manicured grounds, we witnessed two flag raising ceremonies with WWII veteran Ray Lokers from Hamilton, Michigan raising the first flag and the Holland American Legion Color Guard raising the second followed with a spontaneous a cappella singing of the Star Spangled Banner. [Color Guard member Cynthia’s uncle is buried in Normandy – verify details] The flag raising was followed by a wreath laying ceremony.

Before we began our 45 minute concert in front of the Memorial where President Obama spoke yesterday, RCA Pastor Bob VanVoorst shared a meditation from [insert passage].

(In response to several posted comments, we did not see President Obama yesterday as we were in a different town. However, I did get to use the wifi inside the big top tent at the official military secured media center yesterday, so that was cool!)

Our concert at the D-Day Museum in Arromanches was cancelled due to rain. Pretty crazy to see the images and actual structures floated from England and intentionally sunk offshore to form an artificial harbor! (I hope you’re taking some time to google details of our performance locations as we’ve seen some amazing things!)

It this moment, we’re waiting in downtown Carentan for a police escort to guide our tour bus through the narrow streets to our concert location.

The concert will be followed by a dinner at nearby St. Come du Mont in re-enacting camp.

Tomorrow Paris!!!!

(Correction: Sorry for my misplaced punctuation, spelling and grammar. Fatigue, power issues, and internet failures are my only excuse!!!)

Under clear blue skies with a mild breeze, the Holland American Legion Band assembled for a five minute Sunday service presented by RCA Pastor and American Legion Band alto saxophone player Bob VanVoorst on the very location of President Obama’s speech a day earlier.

Here is the transcript to Pastor VanVoorst’s service at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, France:

Service at the American Cemetery in Normandy

June 7, 2009

Opening: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Salutation: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture: John 15:12-17

Jesus said,12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵I do not call you servants^* any longer, because the servant^* does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. ¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

Meditation: “No Greater Love”

Prayer

We give thanks for: Jesus Christ, who has called us his friends and given his life for us; the fruitful work God has given us to do; the love that we share with all the people of God; the heritage of freedom that we enjoy; God’s presence with us.

We pray for: the unity and mission of the church; peace in the world, and especially for our nation; those who visit this place during this anniversary; our families and friends while we are separated from them; God’s blessing on our band as we travel and play; that all those who hear us may increase their dedication to justice and harmony among the nations.

Benediction “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up the light of his presence upon you, and grant you peace.”

Officiating: Robert Van Voorst, RCA minister (and 2^nd alto saxophonist).

Picture: Ron Geers playing Taps on Omaha Beach for the Ceremony for Soldiers Lost at Sea at Saint Martin de Varreville.

Picture:  Holland Legion Honor Guard on Omaha Beach.

How do they do it?  Professional singers/musicians I mean?  We had three concerts at three different venues today and one reception and now I’m totally beat!  Our last concert tonight was at the Concert Hall of Saint-Lo.  Very cool area!  They requested an encore…THREE TIMES!!!!  The stage lights were bright and the house lights were off, but our clarinet and flute players could see the French audience standing for the Star Spangled Banner.  Talk about a tear jerker!  That after seeing the invasion beaches with young soldiers site seeing and aged veterans performing in ceremonies while young children are playing in laughing on the beach where the invasions took place 65 years ago. I would have never guessed how popular RV’ing is in Normandy.  All the sites have a dozen or more RVs parked in the lot.

Note from our Esteemed Director Thom Working:

Tonight’s concert at the Center Hall of Saint-Lo was the most amazing concert the band has ever played.  We received a standing ovation and two encores.  -Thom

The following is a message from our Director Extrodinairre Thom Working:

Saturday Afternoon – Normandy Time

We just had our first concert in Ste Mere Eglise right outside the church where John Steele’s parachute caught on the steeple.  I’m so proud of this band!  They played so well.  We had a large and very appreciative audience.

Now back to Saint-Lo to play at their D-Day ceremony and then a concert in their auditorium.   Tomorrow we play atthe Normandy Cemetary, Arromaches, and Carentan.

This band is doing such a great job!  Be proud of them – They represent you well!!!

-Thom

Holland American Legion Band unloading tour bus for first concert in Normandy at Place de l'Eglise where Paratrooper John Steele's parachute was caught on the steeple during the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944.

Click here to learn more about John Steele’s and Saint Mere Eglise, the first village liberated by the US forces on June 6, 1944.

Awesome flight into Paris this morning.  Cool double decker tour bus with instrument trailer packed full.  Cool seeing Pegasus Bridge and Caen War Museum today.  Ended travel at 7pm in Saint Lo.  (34 hours awake with only a couple short naps on the bus!  We’re all tired.)  Internet service at the hotel is VERY slow tonight, so I hope to post some pics tomorrow if I find a faster Hot Spot.  Possible live phone interview scheduled with WoodTV 8 (www.woodtv.com) at 6:45am and 7:45am Saturday, June 6.

Several concerts scheduled for tomorrow.

All’s well and everyone is happy to finally have beds to sleep on!

05Jun09 6:30am Amsterdam Time.

ALLS WELL IN AMSTERDAM STOP PARIS NINE TWENTY FIVE STOP

At 3 Euros per 15 minutes of WIFI, I figured I better resort to telegraph technology to update the blog.

For 35 years I’ve stood in North America looking east towards the Netherlands (the land of my ancestors) and I have to admit, it was pretty amazing to descend through the clouds and see canals, fields, and a McDonalds and realize that I am now in Europe looking west towards home. They tell me it’s the same sun here as I see at home. Can you believe it? (I’m sort of kidding about that, but it’s still amazing to me!)

After our flight to Paris, we’ll be visiting the Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal. From there we will visit the Caen Memorial and find our hotels for the next three nights in Saint Lo, France.

Hopefully I’ll have a more stable internet connection at the hotel.

Absolutely perfect weather provided a great beginning for our trip!  After a few words from Holland Mayor Al McGeehan and a short prayer by Holland Legion Chaplain Scott Peirce, we loaded the buses and headed for the Detroit Airport.  We’ve arrived at the airport without incident and are in the process of getting through security and finding our gate.

Here’s a link to departure video on WoodTV.com:

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ottawa_county/Holland_band_travels_to_Normandy

Next stop, Amsterdam!!!

We’re leaving tomorrow!!!  After months of preparation and hours and hours of rehearsing, the Holland American Legion Band will be departing from City on a Hill in Zeeland, Michigan at 9:30am EDT on Thursday, June 4, 2009.

One week from tonight, 45 members of the Holland American Legion Band will be somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean en route to Normandy, France!!!

The past few weeks have been packed full of rehearsals, fund raisers, and even several Memorial Weekend performances.  Thank you to everyone who has donated time and money towards this trip,  With your tremendous support we have now raised enough money for the band to make it to Normandy.  Getting home, however, is still questionable.  (There’s a conspiracy developing about leaving the drummers behind.)

We’re also very grateful to the media for picking up our story and sharing it with their respective audiences.

Here’s a few links to a number of recent stories:

Holland Michigan band to mark D-Day in Normandy, France -mlive.com

http://www.mlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2009/05/the_rows_upon_rows_upon.html

Holland American Legion to play in Europe -WoodTV.com

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ottawa_county/Holl_American_Legion_to_play_in_Europe

Holland American Legion Band to honor Normandy veterans on European tour -Holland Sentinel

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/archive/x1194174468/Holland-American-Legion-Band-to-honor-Normandy-veterans-on-European-tour

65th D-Day Celebration -Halftime Magazine

http://halftimemag.com/articles/05-2009/05-2009-noteworthy/65th-d-day-celebration.html

In addition to these local and national articles, we are also getting picked up in the media in France and the Netherlands.  One reporter even traveled all the way from the Province of Zeeland for a sneak peak at the Holland American Legion Band:

http://liliangoesamerica.wordpress.com/

Okay, maybe Lilian happened to be in the United States researching the stories of people of Dutch decent, but I still believe Holland was the high point of her trip to the USA.  Much of her blog is translated into English, which is a good thing because I’ve heard most of the Dutch learned by people growing up in Holland, Michigan was learned in the barn and inappropriate for civil company.