THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994 TAG: 9406050091
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MATTHEW BOWERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940605 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH
They knew that D-Day had leapt from the dry pages of their history books into gritty, almost-real life when, from their spectators' seats, they started giving directions to a German army medic nearby, trying to point him toward pretend-wounded comrades.
{REST} ``It was a lot worse than it was in the book,'' said Guernsey, a high school junior from Currituck, N.C., whose history class rode a bus to Saturday afternoon's re-enactment at Fort Story of the 1944 Allied invasion of France at Normandy.
``In our book, it just said: `Thousands of people invaded.' It didn't say bombs and gunfire and everything.''
``We just did it in class and everything,'' classmate Sasnett added. ``And this was a chance to see how it really was.''
The two 16-year-olds thought the seven swooping vintage warplanes, the 1,100 authentically equipped Allied and German re-enactors, the $100,000 worth of bogus bombs and simulated strafing, the tanks, the trucks and the pro-German, sword-waving Cossack riding up and down the beach on horseback were, in a word: ``Great.''
But they came away from the 90-minute spectacle on the Chesapeake Bay with more than sunburned cheeks. They developed a new appreciation for what American soldiers did, and do.
``They put their lives right in the line of fire for us,'' Guernsey said. ``But we're, `Well, that's what they do.'
``I don't think I'll ever forget it. . . . When I heard people say `D-Day,' I guessed it was `Death Day' or something. I didn't realize it was an invasion.''
Neither did many of the children attending the re-enactment. Most, like T.C. Morris, 13, of West Point, had a vague notion of the conflict - ``I know the Germans had something to do with it'' - but not specifics. Others, like Guernsey and Sasnett, wanted to flesh out their history texts.
That was fine by the re-enactors.
``I thought it was an important event,'' said James Thomas, a 26-year-old college history student from Dallas who portrayed a German soldier.
``It gives a greater sense of history than what you get out of history books,'' he said, stripped to an undershirt in the heat and munching a hard-boiled egg. ``I hope it won't serve so much as a glorification of war but as an example of the horrors of war. Hopefully.''
\ \ SCHEDULE\ CNN plans live coverage Monday morning of events marking the 50th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, beginning with a memorial service aboard the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier George Washington. The ceremony starts at 1 a.m. EDT. Here is a complete list of Sunday and Monday events. All times are local; subtract six hours for EDT.
SUNDAY
Southsea, England - Queen Elizabeth II, President Clinton, 12,000 veterans at Drumhead Service to commemorate commitment of forces on D-Day, 7 a.m.
Spithead, England - Heads of state on royal yacht review veterans embarking for Normandy, 9 a.m.
Portsmouth, England - Royal Yacht, carrier George Washington and rest of Normandy flotilla embark, 11 a.m.
Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France - A group of U.S. veterans will parachute again at the first village liberated in France, preceded by active-duty paratroops. French Premier Edouard Balladur honors them afterward, 8:30 a.m.
Pegasus Bridge, France - Active-duty British, Canadian and French paratroops jump near the famed bridge over the Orne River, under the gaze of Prince Charles, 10 a.m.
MONDAY
Pointe du Hoc, France - Clinton visits rubble of the German coastal shore battery seized by U.S. Rangers on D-Day and meets survivors, 2:30 a.m.
Utah Beach, France - President Francois Mitterrand officially welcomes Clinton to France in presence of several thousand U.S. veterans at the northernmost D-Day beachhead, 3:45 a.m.
Bayeux, France - The first monument on continental Europe to Dwight Eisenhower is unveiled by Eisenhower's son John, with U.S. Ambassador Pamela Harriman, 4:30 a.m.
Hermanville, Douvres la Delivrande, Ranville, Ryes, France - Prince Charles and other royal members honor veterans at cemeteries at the British beachheads of Sword and Gold. All at 5 a.m.
Courseulles, France - Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada pays tribute to Canadian veterans whose comrades buried at this cemetery near Juno Beach, 4:00 a.m.
Omaha Beach, France - Fifteen leaders from the Allied nations gather at D-Day's bloodiest battlefield for international ceremony. Boats will bring ashore colors from D-Day military units, 9 a.m.
Colleville-Sur-Mer, France - Some 8,000 U.S. veterans hear Clinton speak at the U.S. military cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, 11 a.m.
Caen, France - Following an official dinner for national leaders, a spectacular sound, light and actors' show for 60,000 people will be held at the Caen Memorial, 4:30 p.m.
- Staff and Associated Press
{KEYWORDS} WWII D-DAY NORMANDY
by CNB