European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 4, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday june 4, 1994 the stars and stripes he Hopes to heaven weather cooperates by Ron Jensen a % Normandy Bureau , France a the mayor has been administering this town lately with one Eye focused so Ward , the first town in France liberated on a Day will be the Center of attention sunday As it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its liberation a and kicks this giant commemoration off for real. And the weather is a fickle partner Likely to change from Sunshine to rain and Back to Sunshine during a conversation about it. Mayor Marc Lefevre knows this. Quot the weather is very bad Quot he said. Quot it Rains every Day. It is very difficult for us to organize Many  a key part of the ceremonies will be an Airdrop by 527 Active duty paratroops. But the daily Rains have turned the Landing zone three Miles from town into a soft and Muddy sponge. Quot the ground conditions Are Muddy and Are expected to be Muddy at the time of the jump a said 1st it. Steve Moon of the joint information Bureau. Quot the fact that it s Muddy will not affect the jump. The wind is really the big thing a so far the pre Celebration Celebration has not been diminished by the dampness the streets of  Are full. \. Sandwich stands and souvenir shops have sprouted like wildflowers after a Spring rain. A Strong and constant wind stiffens flags and sends hats bouncing Down the Street Tike tumbleweeds. But that All seems to add to the county fair atmosphere that has enveloped the town. Quot there a one individual this town can thank a said Bill Enquist a returning american vet. A Cornelius  Ryan wrote heavily about the town in his bestselling Book the longest Day the subsequent movie was partially filmed in . Enquist who landed at Utah Beach on a Day and eventually moved through , was among the throngs of International visitors walking the streets Friday afternoon. He is staying with a Friend at a farm outside town and will attend sunday s ceremonies. A the Only thing we re worried about is that traffic is going to be murder. Of boy a he said Martin Salley of Pittsburgh was searching for a table in a crowded restaurant a i wanted to see How the towns have changed since the devastation a the army Veteran said. Quot a lot of the old buildings Are still standing a Salley is holding up Well also. He was wearing Sas John both Nulf members of the military vehicle preservation association gather at the base of the  Church. The jacket he wore when he left the army in 1945, a a in a going to be Here for the 100th anniversary a he said. Lefevre Isnit looking that far ahead. He can Only think to sunday. He admits the crowds have been Good for the merchants but the traffic has been a problem. But he Wilt live with that if Only the Rains will stay away. He knows he is about to be at the Center of the world. A Many people Tell me that a he said Quot i Hope the people of the world will see  in the  unit takes winds with Grain of Sand by Craig Martin Normandy Bureau Utah Beach France a sailors soldiers airmen marines and a handful of coast guardsmen battled High winds at Utah Beach on Friday making final preparations for a Day commemorative ceremonies sunday and monday High winds Friday dried off the ground and pavement from the previous two Days of rain. But the winds also sent hats flying and blew Sand that stung faces. That did no to discourage the approximately 100 soldiers from the 69th air defense arty brigade at Gie Belstadt Germany. They Are the hosts and organizers of ceremonies at Utah Beach that begin sunday and continue monday. A the ceremonies Here Are pretty much a joint service affair a maj. Russell Chun operations officer for the event said Friday. A we re rehearsing the Little pieces and putting everything together today Friday a Chun said adding that dress rehearsal for everyone will be today. Chun said that in addition to organizing the ceremonies the 69th will play Host to 567 people from other units participating in Utah Beach ceremonies As Well As other events in the area. That Means unit members will be responsible for their guests accommodations food and schedules. A a we re supporting 18 to 20 ceremonies outside Utah a Chun said. A Well be hosting the 101st and 82nd airborne divisions As Well As other  in the last three months the Utah Beach Monument and Parade area has been transformed by several construction projects. A the French have contracted out most of the work that a been done Here a Chun said referring to three warehouse sized tents and four stadium sized bleacher areas. A a lot of Effort has gone into  Chun said that although he did no to have exact figures the Utah Beach site is the cheapest to operate because the French have contributed housing food and other items for those taking part in the commemoration. Icing this journey Calm shores Greet the vets by Mark Kinkade Normandy Bureau Omaha Beach France slowly almost timidly the veterans return to the Beach. Alone or perhaps in pairs or with their wives they wander out across the smooth Sand Between the draws at i Erville sur Mer and Coleville sur Mer where nearly 3,000 americans were killed june 6,1944. They stare at the water. They look along the beaches and try to pinpoint where they landed. And they whisper As they talk. Sometimes they cry a Veteran of the 29th inf div who landed on Omaha near the i Orville draw looked out Over the Beach from the Normandy american cemetery High above the Sand. Then he turned around shouted As if in pain and slapped the Stone observation table behind him. Quot so Many a he said. Quot so Many a despite the influx of nearly 20,000 veterans an army of Media anti an unknown number of tourists Omaha Beach is relatively Calm. As the Media converge on the american cemetery above the Beach where the main International a Day commemoration ceremony will be monday the Beach is spared much of the traffic that comes with olt in the world spotlight. One reason Omaha is so sedate French officials said is that the French Are in charge of the ceremony marking the landings Quot we try to make it a family meeting Quot said can Pierrc Chedal Sanglay a vice Villa sur mar town official. It is a commemoration not a  the French army has three Camps in the area housing about 200 soldiers to support the French govern mint during the ceremonies said col. Francois Dom Manga the commander of the forces in the area. A we Are organized a Dom Manga said. A and we Are of course French. Its As simple As  the most noticeable change on the normally sedate Beach is in the area below , where a Monument to the Landing juts up above the Sand. For the past month contractors have been working to finish a a shaped Pavilion capable of seating about 4,000 veterans for the Beach ceremonies. The Pavilion dominates the Middle of the Beach Road and is drawing most of the activity. Traffic near the Pavilion is slow but the French police in the area have been keeping the cars and trucks moving. On the Beach facing the Pavilion from the sea the French Navy has five Landing areas for staged landings from the sea. Five Large wheeled Landing Craft practice each Day for about two hours then leave the Beach to the veterans again. While the French have managed to keep the insanity around the Beach to a minimum the Beach itself seems to have a calming effect. Although a few tourists walk on it accompanied by occasional military history buffs driving on the Road above in an Odd assortment of Vintage vehicles veterans seem to have a private charter to be on the Beach. When the wind sweeps in off the English Channel and the skies Cloud up As they do almost every Day the jeeps leave and the veterans walk to the water s Edge. They stand alone in the face of the coming storm and stare across the sea