Photo By Master Sgt. Opal Vaughn | German army soldiers render honors during the playing of the U.S. national anthem...... read more read more
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BAYEUX, France- U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based out of Vicenza, Italy and Grafenwohr, Germany, alongside their French and German army allies and Veterans, paid homage to those lost during Operation Overlord during a ceremony at the La Cambe German war cemetery in the Normandy region of France, June 5, 2015, here marking the 71st anniversary of the D-Day landings.
As the U.S Army’s contingency response force in Europe, the 173rd provides ready troops to deploy within 18 hours, anywhere in the U.S., European, Africa, and Central Command areas of responsibility. But none of this would be possible without those who paved the way said Sgt. 1st Class Josh Geery, a platoon sergeant assigned to the brigades 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment.
“We’re here to remember the past so that we don’t repeat it in the future,” said Geery. “It’s also to not let anyone forget what happened on these grounds back in 1944.”
La Cambe was originally the site of a battlefield cemetery, where American and German service members from World War II were buried in two adjacent fields. In total, there are the remains of 21,222 German service members buried at La Cambe. Two hundred and seven are unknown and 89 identified are buried in a mass grave beneath the central tumulus.
For most people, the legacy of La Cambe shows great stride that Germany is now an ally. Geery said he believes that what happened then has shaped how the military operates now.
“We shouldn’t forget events like this because it’s something that happened in the world and has shaped how we will be in the future and are today,” he said.
It’s been 71 years and with a new generation of German army soldiers, many are taking the necessary steps to bridge the gap of their negative past.
“This ceremony is part of our education and awareness,” said German Lt. Col. Michael Crackau, commander Helmut-Schmidt-University. “Coming to ceremonies like this is important so that we do not forget what happened here years ago. We have been welcomed to the ceremonies in Normandy for five years now. I would hope that we can continue this for the years to come.”
More than 380 service members from Europe and affiliated D-Day historical units are participating in the 71st anniversary as part of Joint Task Force D-Day 71. The task force, based in Sainte Mere Eglise, France, is supporting local events across Normandy, June 2-8, 2015, to commemorate the selfless actions by all the Allies on D-Day that continue to resonate 71 years later.
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2015 02:25 |
| Story ID: | 165744 |
| Location: | BAYEUX, FR |
| Web Views: | 578 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, 173rd, German army remembers the fallen of D-Day, by MSG Opal Vaughn, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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