European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 4, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday june 4, 1994 the stars and stripes Pago 9souvenir shops armed ready by Ron Jensen Normandy Bureau Bayeux France a on the eve of the largest influx of unarmed visitors this largely Rural and unspoiled Region Ever has endured the shops Are bulging with the spoils of the a Day Victory those leaving this commemoration without at least one a Day related item will have Only themselves to blame to shirts Dangle from shop ceilings. Decorative plates and Ceramic toothpick holders in the shape of world War ii helmets crowd shelves already Laden with Coffee mugs and ashtrays. To be fair the Quot Tacky Quot Factor is Low. Most souvenirs Are legitimate and respectful. There Are few that stretch the Bounds of Good taste. One might be the musical to shirt for 139 francs about $25, press a target imprinted on the breast pocket and the theme song from the longest Day pours out for a few interminable seconds. There Are stacks of Ceramic items that Bear a somewhat close resemblance to tanks with Short wooden Sticks for the main gun. Their practical purpose if there is one is not readily apparent. Bayeux is a Lovely and ancient town of 20,000. Like All towns Here now it is decorated in the trappings of the moment. Strings of flags of the world War ii allies a minus the russians a Are stretched across every Street. Nearly every store has used the a Day Celebration to promote its wares. Eyeglasses Are scattered in a window display among relics from the War. Parachute motifs decorate Many storefronts. But the normans Haye not forgotten their pre largest invasion the would has Ever witnessed history. The 900-year-old Bayeux tapestry has not been shunted aside by the 50-year-Ola invasion. Tea towels and scarves featuring reproductions of tapestry scenes Are still abundant. But next week s anniversary is the top attraction in souvenir shops. Photos of Gen. Dwight a Eisenhower decorate everything from to shirts to ski a i a a  a amps John Bomor a Day related key chains mingle with traditional Bayeux selections at this Normandy shop. Wall plaques to key holders. Free French Leader Charles a Gaulle has been resurrected on plates and Coffee mugs. Nearly every cafe is serving Coffee with sugar cubes wrapped in paper with a a Day scene from soldiers storming ashore to an Raf spitfire strafing a Norman hedgerow. Collect them Alt. The biggest seller shopkeepers say is wine. Wine bottles feature any number of a Day labels. A special anniversary bottle of Calvados Brandy is also a big seller with the veterans who have arrived Early. Click Clacks the Cricket sounding devices used by paratroops to find each other in the pre Tnuva Sion darkness Are big Sellers at 25 francs about not just mementos by Mark k1nkade Normandy Bureau arro Manches France if world War ii did no to make believers of every a Day Veteran some people Are praying that memories of War will do the trick Whie t to u a n is o f veterans relive the past during the Days leading to the a Day commemoration ceremonies members of the pocket testament league Are handing out Minia Ture copies of the new testament to bring veterans to Christ league member Ken Dunlap said. Quot i Hope we can catch some veterans who perhaps have not come to Christ Quot Dunlap said As he handed out copies of the Book in the port town of arro Manches. Quot this May be the last Chance for some of  for Dunlap handing out books to veterans is a Way of giving Back something a stranger gave him 50 years ago. As a Soldier boarding a troop transport ship in Norfolk va., bound for Europe in 1944, Dunlap did no to consider himself a Christian. Then someone pressed a Small red Book into his hand and Dunlap stuck the Book in his pocket As a Quot Good Luck Charm Quot he said. Like Dunlap thousands of americans marched off to world War ii with copies of the new testament in their pockets. From Ocean ports to Uso canteens the pocket testament league was there with thousands of copies for the soldiers said league Pennsylvania chapter director Don Kitchen the league specializes in being present at major events. Kitchen said members have distributed books at most olympic games since world War ii and at major sporting events and ceremonies around the world. The league is handing out special copies of the Book designed to Mark the 50th anniversary of the landings Kitchen said. Each new testament is embossed with the Crest worn by american soldiers in Europe during the War. Inside the league has reprinted a 1941 letter from president Roosevelt to service members that encouraged them to read the Bible. More than 18,000 copies of the Book Are stockpiled in Normandy for the ceremonies. League members Sis Day Cay Don Kitchen hands out pocket new testaments to All takers at arro Manches France on thursday. The books were Given out on troop ships and elsewhere in world War ii. Who paid for their own transportation and lodging Are spending about 10 Days on the streets sidewalks and beaches giving the books away. The league also is handing out French and English translations of the gospel of John and printers in the United st3tes Are ready to run off More pocket testaments i needed. $5. Some cigarette lighters Are cheap. Others arc not specifically the Zippo collection commemorative lighter which Sells for 260 francs about $52. Along with the musical to shirt a person could be of fitted in a a Day anniversary wardrobe Complete with a baseball Cap or Beret and Blue windbreaker. A person also could stuff a Library with books that Tell the Story of the invasion from every possible Angle. There is then a Little bit of everything. However it is a pleasure to report there was no sighting of a to shirt sporting the message my dad went to Omaha Beach and All i got was this Lousy  general hospitalized in Normandy Caen Frances amps the commander of the 32nd army air defense come which has its Headquarters in Darmstadt Germany is in stable condition following emergency surgery thursday at a civilian Hospital in Caen Brig. Gen. Joseph g. Garrett Iii underwent Colon surgery at the Caen University Hospital according to a spokesman at the . Joint information Bureau at Colle Vitie sur Mer. He was taken to the Hospital after complaining of severe pains. Garrett was still in the hospitals intensive care unit Friday the spokesman said. A French american medical team performed the operation and is caring for Garrett the spokesman added Garrett s command is supporting the a Day commemorative ceremonies in Normandy about 150 soldiers from the command operate a joint visitors Bureau in the French town of Signy sur Mer and other air defense soldiers Are providing assistance at various Sites for the commemoration