Graignes D-Day 70th Commemorations 2014

Here are last year's commemorations in Graignes.

They started with a BBQ in the back garden












We were joined by a C-47 practising its fly past (which was to be part of the official ceremony)

We meet the Australian Federation Guard in a field near the memorial!

The C-47 dropped some parachutists (the first to drop over Graignes for 70 years)









The memorial plaque was covered in readiness for the unveiling.

The great and the good were there and speeches were made.

The veterans

Representatives of the German, American, Australian and Dutch military with Mr D Small, Mayor of Graignes-Mesnil Angot

 

  









I even read the English version of the mayor's speech! (I'd lost my voice so it was touch and go!)

Monsieur Denis Small - Mayor of Graignes-Mesnil Angot

The Colonel Frank Naughton's family unveiled the new memorial - they worked hard collating the all the names

The wreath laying was poignant
(Elissa and Flt Lt Mark Schmidt AFG)

The children from the local school laid their floral tributes

After the ceremony there was a "Vin d'honneur" laid on by the village and hosted by AFASEC Jockey School during which there was another parachute jump