European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 3, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday june 3, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 7 a German looks out Over Omaha Beach by Kevin Dougherty Normandy Bureau Omaha Beach France a the House is a keeper in any land. Rather modest in size the Home has a thatched roof Stone Fence and a Large Yard with plenty of greenery. The location is not too bad either its across from Omaha Beach and just a couple of Hundred Yards from where scores of world leaders will gather monday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy. But what a especially interesting about this particular House is that its owned by a German whose father fought and died in world War ii. On monday Heinz Jirgen Jacob May Well be the Only German within earshot of Omaha Beach. And the former world War ii allies decision not Germany to partake in a Day ceremonies does no to rankle Jacob. He understands Why they can to. A a it a no problem a said Jacob who is a University medical teacher in bochum Germany when he a not at his Normandy vacation Home. German politicians a should no to be Here if those who liberated Europe in those Days want to have a ceremony a he said. A there Are so Many private relationships Between Ordinary people like As he spoke those words Jacob looked Over at his House guest for the next several Days a John Roseberg a civilian attorney from Rockford 111, in the Early 1970s, Roseberg was a . Army Captain stationed with the 2nd army Cav regt near Bayreuth Germany. That tour of duty exposed Roseberg and his wife Carol to the wonders of Europe. _ Roseberg a War Buff met Jacob a few years ago. The american was touring Omaha Beach with his wife when she struck up a conversation with Jacob one thing led to another and today the families Are friends. Jacob 50, purchased his vacation Home in 1986. He bought the House in part because of Tina Beach reminded him of Sandy stretches he used to frequent in Northern Germany. He also had a Good first impression of the people who would become his neighbors. Unlike the Netherlands where his desire to buy a summer lome was shunned residents of i Erville sur mar were receptive to Jacob and his family from the Start. A the main Point was the acceptance of the neighbors a he said a if you buy a House you have to have Good Carol Roseberg said the two families plan to stay put on monday and watch the extravaganza. A hopefully Quot she said a a we la sit Here with a Good bottle of wine with our feet up and watch the Parade go Crews a / Sas Vinco Fawley Heinz Jurgen Jacob a German University medical teacher stands at the Gate or his summer House which overlooks Omaha Ikach. No music setup of reviewing area for a Day veterans vips nearing completion by Kevin Dougherty Normandy Bureau Omaha Beach France a Lucio Carrera likes to whistle while he works. The song Foremost on his mind thursday morning As he Laboured under a vip grandstand at Omaha Beach was the Star Span glad Banner. Clad in a yellow Raincoat the whistling French labourer Lent a soothing touch to what was a chaotic and Rainy workplace a the thinks it is Good to think of them the a Day veterans a said Anne Presson a construction coordinator who interpreted for Carrera. The 20-year-old Carrera and other employees of a Paris based construction company As Well As French television technicians were nearing the end. Of their preparations for mondays a Day ceremony. At least 5,000 world War ii veterans and hundreds of dignitaries including . President Clinton Are scheduled to attend. Situated in a parking lot directly across from the a Day Monument at Omaha Beach the reviewing area will seat about 4,000 veterans and 1,200 vips Presson said. The company for which Presson works silence productions specializes in erecting grandstands and setting up lighting and sound systems for major events. About 100 employees have been working on the a Day project since May 16. Quot we have Only tomorrow Friday to finish but that should be of that should be of a Presson said As if to convince herself that everything from portable toilets to decorative plants to music will be ready for saturdays rehearsal. As Carrera whistled and worked a fellow employee also had a specific song on his mind less amps. Vinca Crawley workers near the Omaha Beach Monument finish preparations for mondays a Day anniversary ceremonies. Ric Airis Slang for the americans was a popular Ballad by French Singer Michel Sardou eight years ago said Jacmic Balet. Balet a lighting supervisor who celebrated his 49th birthday thursday said the song implores French people to remember that if it weren to for the americans a we would be in a the thinks its a Good idea to remind the Young people about what happened Here a Presson said. While Presson and her colleagues hustled to finish their Job 74 members of the French army a 71st engr regt Laboured on the Beach below. The regiment has spent the last five Days grooming the Beach specifically to minimize the amount of standing water at Low tide. The work is necessary because mondays event which will occur at Low tide features a ceremonial Landing of amphibious ships and a symbolic walk across the Beach to the sea Wall and reviewing area a the ambience is not the same As 50 years ago a French army capt. Ludovic Perche said referring to the carnage on a Day. Some of the French troops a have never been Here before Quot he added. A i think it is very important to remember what happened Here 50 years a
