European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Visitors come to Sill. Mere to see where it All began by Hon Jensen Nurnberg Bureau visitors come to  for one reason to see the town where the greatest invasion of All time began. Late on the evening of june 5,1944, paratroops landed in and around this town starting the invasion of Europe that eventually pushed the third Reich Back to Berlin. Other than a few streets named for soldiers and a cafe bearing the name 6 juin 6 june the town is very much a quiet Rural Village of 1,600 French people with Little to distinguish it from dozens of others across the Norman Countryside. The biggest attraction is the airborne museum or As it is called in French mus6c Des troupes a6roport6cs. Run by an expatriate american the museum provides a wonderful glimpse of the Battle that began the end of Adolf hitlers dream. Meeting visitors who pay the 18-franc admission about $3 is a Waco glider one of the 512 that carried soldiers into the area june the airborne museum in Ste.-m6re-�glise draws thousands of visitors each year. A amps Dov Cathy t 6, 7,8 and 9, 1944. Through photographs and artefacts the museum gives the grand View of the War along with the personal. One a mail letter is on display. The writer a Soldier named Jim wrote to his family a if i done to come out of this thing l want my people especially my father to know i gave every ounce of my strength and Energy for what i believe i am fighting  the letter was never mailed. Jim died on a Day. V a a. A. A 10-minute video features Philippe Jutras the curator explaining the Battle at Ste.-m6re-eglise. In the video he exhibits a Flag unfurled by it. Col. Edward c. Krause at the town Hall Early on the morning of june 6, 1944. The first american Flag unfurled on French soil is now displayed at the City Hall known As hotel de Ville an Annex to the airborne museum is next door and features a c-47 that carried paratroops to the area on the night of june 5,1944. Here too photographs and Memorabilia Tell the Story. Most interesting Are personal snapshots a Waco glider on display in the airborne museum in Ste.-m6re-eglise features lifelike Par rooter models in combat gear. Contributed to the museum by veterans. The Black and White photos show soldiers posing with their air planes relaxing around a jeep or playing with a Camp dog. The Joy of these types of museums is the detail they offer. For example this museum displays a rope used to Tow gliders. Woven within the rope is a communication line that linked the glider with the towing plane. There Are markers around town that help Tell the Story. In front of the City Hall a Small Monument Marks the Start of the liberation Highway which extends from  to Bastogne Belgium. The Auberge John Steele in town dates from 1731, but the name for the hotel comes from a a Day paratrooper whose Chute got caught on the Church Steeple. There he played dead for two hours until the germans Cut him Loose and took him prisoner Steele died in 1969, but not before making several visits to . A Dummy hangs today from the Church Steeple to commemorate Steele a Fate. In the hotel the Friendly proprietor will insist that you visit the Small museum in his dining room. It consists of a few artefacts and photographs not much really but the proprietor is proud of it. Inside the Church Are two stained Glass windows that  be missed. They pay tribute to the paratroops who came to liberate . A Day is about ail that is needed to see . It is a comfortable town Small and charming but lacking in nightlife or Fine shopping. There Are plenty of a Day souvenirs to be had from plates and clocks to maps and posters. A store stuffed with military related items is on Rue Robert Murphy one of the streets named for a Liberator. Store owner Jean Bernard Valones is a pleasant fellow who Speaks excellent English. Besides the John Steele hotel a new one on the Edge of town is highly recommended. It is the hotel be Ste. My re and features a Fine restaurant and bar Only a five minute walk from the Square. Americans Are special in . Residents know you Are visiting because of the towns role in the a Day invasion. More than Likely you will be made to feel As if you were one of the Brave invaders who dropped from the nighttime sky and brought an end to the town s German occupation. 18 a stars and it stripes commemorative edition june 6, 1994