In addition to the official ceremonies, as a French soldier in Germany during my military service and as French private citizens my family and I simply say: "Thank you. We'll never forget what the Allies achieved for us. God bless you."

Faber

You are most welcome, and we are glad to have you on the forum. Thanks also to the British, Canadian, Free French, and other soldiers who landed on the Normandy beaches that day.

Appreciate your sentiments, Faber - So many French people have a negative attitude towards Americans.

Thank you.

Faber,

Thank you for those sentiments. They are heart felt and I can't help but think that there are many more French who feel the same.

Last year, when asked by a sniping reporter about the US's occupation of Afghanistan, US Sec of State Colin Powell stated that the US military had never occupied any more real estate after a war then it would take to bury its dead.

There were so many that died during that campaign I hope and prey that this generation understands and never forgets the reasons why we fought it.

Good Luck
Tom

Faber, thanks also. I jumped at Sainte Mere-Eglse last year for the 59th anniversary then spent the next 5 days in the hospital in Sainte Lo. (landed very hard and had mutiple hip fractures) The hospitalilty from your country was excellent. Later can you give us the lowdown on firearm ownership in France please.

Comrade in Arms
CD

"I jumped at Sainte Mere-Eglse last year for the 59th anniversary then spent the next 5 days in the hospital in Sainte Lo."

CD...

I think you are supposed to use a parachute!

Faber...

Awesome comments! A tip of a Texan's hat to you Sir! I'm glad you're on this Forum!

Michael

Faber, thanks for your comments, and sharing heartfelt sentiments. It's encouraging in this changing day and age in which we live.

Just last night I listened to six hours of radio broadcast, that was replaying the actual radio broadcast of "D" Day 1944, as heard over the National Broadcasting Corporation Radio Network as the details of "D" Day unfolded, the eyewitness accounts relayed, the Presidential speeches and the British commentaries from the BBC were aired. It was truly a sobering and awe-inspiring broadcast. It should be mandatory listening for all present generations to hear, to appreciate better the indescribable event that "D" Day was, and is today!

For information on the broadcast, and to receive a CD you can email:

acnnetwork@qwest.net

The program aired Saturday 05 June 04, from 6pm-Midnight. It was a simply awesome tribute to our servicemen.

Faber, thanks for remembering!

God Bless,

Thank you Mr Stanton and all of you feeling some sympathy toward me.
This year in my country, the new generations have been much more involved in the D-Day's commemoration than they have ever been. A very good thing. From time to time, our Govt takes a good decision.

CD.
I am Sorry to hear of your accident. I hope you have recovered your good condition. If you have any questions about the rehabilitation, e-mail to me, and I'll be glad to help you if I can.
About the ownership of firearms here...what a mess!
It would take several pages of writing to explain.
In short: the law comes from Napoleonic laws modified a lot of times instead of making a new one on a modern basis.
So, there are 8 categories of weapons
1st : war fireams, in theory not allowed to private citizens.
2nd and 3rd:war vehicles, airplanes, ships and special gear (NBC protection), not allowed
4th: defense firearms, in theory allowed but actually very difficult to obtain if the citizen is not a member of a shooting society.
5th: hunting firearm, in theory allowed to hunters but in some cases requiring a 4th category permit.
6th: knives, swords, free to buy, forbidden to tote.
7th: shooting firearms, actualy this category contains only the 22 manualy operated rifles. The semi auto rifles are in 4th category.
8th: collection and neutralized ( permanently unable to fire) firearms.
In the 1st category, in addition to the true military firearms (full auto) we find the semi-auto pistols of a caliber over 7.65mm, (9mm, 10 auto, 45 ACP etc..) we find also any firearm chambered for a cartridge used by any army since 1885. So, a single shot rifle chambered for the 30-40 Krag or 8 mm Lebel would be in 1st category. (It's amazing, isn't it ?) Because of that, we are not allowed to hunt with many calibers very popular everywhere in the world (223 Rem, 30-06 Sprld, 308 Win, 6.5x55mm, 7x57mm, 8x57mm Mauser, etc......) All the revolvers loaded with cartridges, from the 22 short to 454 Casull (and more)are in the 4th category. The black powder muzzle loaders, rifles and handguns are in the 8th category. The shotguns are in 5th and allowed to hunters, but the autoloaders (3 shot only) must be registered to the police, and the pumps have been banned not long ago, but only the shotguns, not the rifles. Why? In my opinion, the movies producers are responsible: They always show bad guys with pump shotguns in their hands. So, our law-makers who are very clever as everybody knows, have immediately understood that pump shotguns are the most dangerous firearms ever made. :D

As you can see it is very simple, :confused: the private citizen is the one for whom to own a firearm is the most difficult, if he is not a hunter or a shooter. He must ask for an authorization to the police headquarters, and fill up a lot of forms, and wait several months to meet with a refusal.
(Anyway, meanwhile he has forgotten the reason he wanted a firearm for.) :rolleyes:

Faber

Faber,

Thanks for the concern and info on French ownership. I recovered in about 3 months and been jumping out of airplanes since October again. Matter of fact jumped last week. Did do some jumping with the Legion in France back in 88'.

Brevet Militaire De Parachutiste


CD

Thank you for having a positive attitude towards us as Americans.

Faber. Your comments amazed me. I wanted to Thank You for opening my eyes and helping me to remember that nations are made up of individuals and it is wrong to dislike an entire nation for the thoughts, beliefs or acts of some of it's citizens. I, for one just realized that I have been guilty of discrimination against the French through my words and deeds and wanted to Thank -You for making me aware of it by your kind words.