PHOTOS: Make-believe soldiers recreate D-Day ambiance
PHOTOS: Make-believe soldiers recreate D-Day ambiance
Keith Taylor, a 73-year-old retired transport worker, dressed as a World War II fire officer poses for a photo after watching parachutists jump Wednesday June 5, 2019, over the Normandy town of Carentan, which was one of the initial objectives of the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion. Taylor said his father, William Taylor, served as a firefighter in the East End of London during the Blitz, the mass bombing raids of the British capital and other cities by the Luftwaffe in 1940-1941. “He went through a lot,” Taylor said of his father. “He had post-traumatic stress, we reckon, after the war.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Adolpho Ferraro, from Italy, poses at a WWII reenactors camp at La Cambe, in Normandy, France on Wednesday June 5, 2019. His grandfather fought in both World War I and WWII. Dressed as an American paratrooper, he is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
OIliver Ofrijo, 48, from Germany, poses with an old BMW vehicle, in the WWII reenactors camp of Old Abe next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, France, on Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as a soldier, Olivier is attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Seen in this combo of images, from left: Allen Triegue, 43, military personnel from Australia, who currently lives in Houston, Texas, Keith Taylor, a 73-year-old retired transport worker, dressed as a World War II fire officer and Curtis Sneddon, 24, from England, dressed head to toe in an expensively assembled U.S. Air force uniform, pose for photos in Carentan, France, on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Make-believe pilots in faded flight suits. Men in steel helmets, driving lovingly restored jeeps. Women dressed as French resistance fighters or wartime factory workers. The 75th anniversary on Thursday of the D-Day landings in Normandy saw thousands turn up for the commemorations in World War II-era garb. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Aurelie Rinaldhi, 40, from Lyon, poses on the beach in Arromanches, Normandy, on Thursday June 6, 2019. Rinaldhi’s grandfather fought in Britany during WWII. Dressed as a civilian, Aurelie wanted to represent the fashion of the time. The handbag she is holding belonged to her grandmother. Aurelie was attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Curtis Sneddon, 24, from England, dressed head to toe in an expensively assembled U.S. Air force uniform, nearly all of it World War II-vintage, as he watched parachutists jump on Wednesday June 5, 2019, over the Normandy town of Carentan, which was one of the initial objectives of the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion. Sneddon, who works as a civilian contractor in England for the U.S. Air force, sources his gear from specialist vendors and collectors in the United States. He splashed out 850 pounds ($1,100) for his parachute alone. Sneddon said he’s been fascinated by things American “since I was a little kid” but also dresses up to preserve the history of World War II and those who fought in it. “If nobody did it, in years to come, everybody would forget about it,” he said. “It’s about educating the younger generation that don’t know.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Laetitia Herve, 43, left, and her daughter Sarah, 17, pose in Arizona Camp set up for WWII reenactors, in La Cambe, France, on Wednesday June 5, 2019. Laetitia grew up in Normandy, close to Utah Beach were U.S. troops landed. She has a great aunt who was born on D-Day, and he parents married one month before the invasion. She has long attended D-Day commemorations and feels the atmosphere “was different before.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Fred Herve, 45, from Britany, poses at the WWII reenactors Arizona camp at La Cambe, in Normandy, France on Wednesday June 5, 2019. Dressed as a French Foreign legionnaire, Fred is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Manusak Harceli, 55, poses at a photo in Old Abe WWII reenactors camp next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, France, on Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as a nurse, Harceli is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Allen Triegue, 43, military personnel from Australia, who currently lives in Houston, Texas, poses after his parachute jump in Carentan, France, on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. His grandfather fought in the Pacific during WWII. Dressed as a paratrooper, Allen was attending the D-Day commemoration for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Herman Harceli, 45, poses in the Old Abe camp next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, Monday June 3, 2019. Herman bought the land, which was a former German military position, to set-up a reenactors camp for D-Day commemoration. In this way he wants to raise awareness of the daily life of soldiers during the WWII. “Here we make history alive” he says. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Raymond Gaona’h, 60, a construction worker from Quimper, France, dressed as a resistance fighter, poses in a WWII reenactors camp in La Cambe, in Normandy, Wednesday June 5, 2019. Gaona’h’s father, a mechanic, served with the French resistance. He lived next to a Nazi headquarters and was arrested and deported to a camp in Germany for attempting to sabotage vehicles. He later escaped from the camp with three friends. Raymond Gaona’h attended the D-Day commemorations for the first time this year. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Sevak Hancerli, 23, from Paris, sits in a trenches in the WWII reenactors camp of Old Abe next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, France, Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as an American soldier, he is attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Keith Taylor, a 73-year-old retired transport worker, dressed as a World War II fire officer poses for a photo after watching parachutists jump Wednesday June 5, 2019, over the Normandy town of Carentan, which was one of the initial objectives of the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion. Taylor said his father, William Taylor, served as a firefighter in the East End of London during the Blitz, the mass bombing raids of the British capital and other cities by the Luftwaffe in 1940-1941. “He went through a lot,” Taylor said of his father. “He had post-traumatic stress, we reckon, after the war.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Keith Taylor, a 73-year-old retired transport worker, dressed as a World War II fire officer poses for a photo after watching parachutists jump Wednesday June 5, 2019, over the Normandy town of Carentan, which was one of the initial objectives of the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion. Taylor said his father, William Taylor, served as a firefighter in the East End of London during the Blitz, the mass bombing raids of the British capital and other cities by the Luftwaffe in 1940-1941. “He went through a lot,” Taylor said of his father. “He had post-traumatic stress, we reckon, after the war.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Adolpho Ferraro, from Italy, poses at a WWII reenactors camp at La Cambe, in Normandy, France on Wednesday June 5, 2019. His grandfather fought in both World War I and WWII. Dressed as an American paratrooper, he is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Adolpho Ferraro, from Italy, poses at a WWII reenactors camp at La Cambe, in Normandy, France on Wednesday June 5, 2019. His grandfather fought in both World War I and WWII. Dressed as an American paratrooper, he is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
OIliver Ofrijo, 48, from Germany, poses with an old BMW vehicle, in the WWII reenactors camp of Old Abe next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, France, on Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as a soldier, Olivier is attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
OIliver Ofrijo, 48, from Germany, poses with an old BMW vehicle, in the WWII reenactors camp of Old Abe next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, France, on Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as a soldier, Olivier is attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Seen in this combo of images, from left: Allen Triegue, 43, military personnel from Australia, who currently lives in Houston, Texas, Keith Taylor, a 73-year-old retired transport worker, dressed as a World War II fire officer and Curtis Sneddon, 24, from England, dressed head to toe in an expensively assembled U.S. Air force uniform, pose for photos in Carentan, France, on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Make-believe pilots in faded flight suits. Men in steel helmets, driving lovingly restored jeeps. Women dressed as French resistance fighters or wartime factory workers. The 75th anniversary on Thursday of the D-Day landings in Normandy saw thousands turn up for the commemorations in World War II-era garb. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Seen in this combo of images, from left: Allen Triegue, 43, military personnel from Australia, who currently lives in Houston, Texas, Keith Taylor, a 73-year-old retired transport worker, dressed as a World War II fire officer and Curtis Sneddon, 24, from England, dressed head to toe in an expensively assembled U.S. Air force uniform, pose for photos in Carentan, France, on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Make-believe pilots in faded flight suits. Men in steel helmets, driving lovingly restored jeeps. Women dressed as French resistance fighters or wartime factory workers. The 75th anniversary on Thursday of the D-Day landings in Normandy saw thousands turn up for the commemorations in World War II-era garb. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Aurelie Rinaldhi, 40, from Lyon, poses on the beach in Arromanches, Normandy, on Thursday June 6, 2019. Rinaldhi’s grandfather fought in Britany during WWII. Dressed as a civilian, Aurelie wanted to represent the fashion of the time. The handbag she is holding belonged to her grandmother. Aurelie was attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Aurelie Rinaldhi, 40, from Lyon, poses on the beach in Arromanches, Normandy, on Thursday June 6, 2019. Rinaldhi’s grandfather fought in Britany during WWII. Dressed as a civilian, Aurelie wanted to represent the fashion of the time. The handbag she is holding belonged to her grandmother. Aurelie was attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Curtis Sneddon, 24, from England, dressed head to toe in an expensively assembled U.S. Air force uniform, nearly all of it World War II-vintage, as he watched parachutists jump on Wednesday June 5, 2019, over the Normandy town of Carentan, which was one of the initial objectives of the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion. Sneddon, who works as a civilian contractor in England for the U.S. Air force, sources his gear from specialist vendors and collectors in the United States. He splashed out 850 pounds ($1,100) for his parachute alone. Sneddon said he’s been fascinated by things American “since I was a little kid” but also dresses up to preserve the history of World War II and those who fought in it. “If nobody did it, in years to come, everybody would forget about it,” he said. “It’s about educating the younger generation that don’t know.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Curtis Sneddon, 24, from England, dressed head to toe in an expensively assembled U.S. Air force uniform, nearly all of it World War II-vintage, as he watched parachutists jump on Wednesday June 5, 2019, over the Normandy town of Carentan, which was one of the initial objectives of the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion. Sneddon, who works as a civilian contractor in England for the U.S. Air force, sources his gear from specialist vendors and collectors in the United States. He splashed out 850 pounds ($1,100) for his parachute alone. Sneddon said he’s been fascinated by things American “since I was a little kid” but also dresses up to preserve the history of World War II and those who fought in it. “If nobody did it, in years to come, everybody would forget about it,” he said. “It’s about educating the younger generation that don’t know.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Laetitia Herve, 43, left, and her daughter Sarah, 17, pose in Arizona Camp set up for WWII reenactors, in La Cambe, France, on Wednesday June 5, 2019. Laetitia grew up in Normandy, close to Utah Beach were U.S. troops landed. She has a great aunt who was born on D-Day, and he parents married one month before the invasion. She has long attended D-Day commemorations and feels the atmosphere “was different before.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Laetitia Herve, 43, left, and her daughter Sarah, 17, pose in Arizona Camp set up for WWII reenactors, in La Cambe, France, on Wednesday June 5, 2019. Laetitia grew up in Normandy, close to Utah Beach were U.S. troops landed. She has a great aunt who was born on D-Day, and he parents married one month before the invasion. She has long attended D-Day commemorations and feels the atmosphere “was different before.” (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Fred Herve, 45, from Britany, poses at the WWII reenactors Arizona camp at La Cambe, in Normandy, France on Wednesday June 5, 2019. Dressed as a French Foreign legionnaire, Fred is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Fred Herve, 45, from Britany, poses at the WWII reenactors Arizona camp at La Cambe, in Normandy, France on Wednesday June 5, 2019. Dressed as a French Foreign legionnaire, Fred is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Manusak Harceli, 55, poses at a photo in Old Abe WWII reenactors camp next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, France, on Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as a nurse, Harceli is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Manusak Harceli, 55, poses at a photo in Old Abe WWII reenactors camp next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, France, on Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as a nurse, Harceli is attending the D-Day commemorations for the second time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Allen Triegue, 43, military personnel from Australia, who currently lives in Houston, Texas, poses after his parachute jump in Carentan, France, on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. His grandfather fought in the Pacific during WWII. Dressed as a paratrooper, Allen was attending the D-Day commemoration for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Allen Triegue, 43, military personnel from Australia, who currently lives in Houston, Texas, poses after his parachute jump in Carentan, France, on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. His grandfather fought in the Pacific during WWII. Dressed as a paratrooper, Allen was attending the D-Day commemoration for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Herman Harceli, 45, poses in the Old Abe camp next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, Monday June 3, 2019. Herman bought the land, which was a former German military position, to set-up a reenactors camp for D-Day commemoration. In this way he wants to raise awareness of the daily life of soldiers during the WWII. “Here we make history alive” he says. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Herman Harceli, 45, poses in the Old Abe camp next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, Monday June 3, 2019. Herman bought the land, which was a former German military position, to set-up a reenactors camp for D-Day commemoration. In this way he wants to raise awareness of the daily life of soldiers during the WWII. “Here we make history alive” he says. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Raymond Gaona’h, 60, a construction worker from Quimper, France, dressed as a resistance fighter, poses in a WWII reenactors camp in La Cambe, in Normandy, Wednesday June 5, 2019. Gaona’h’s father, a mechanic, served with the French resistance. He lived next to a Nazi headquarters and was arrested and deported to a camp in Germany for attempting to sabotage vehicles. He later escaped from the camp with three friends. Raymond Gaona’h attended the D-Day commemorations for the first time this year. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Raymond Gaona’h, 60, a construction worker from Quimper, France, dressed as a resistance fighter, poses in a WWII reenactors camp in La Cambe, in Normandy, Wednesday June 5, 2019. Gaona’h’s father, a mechanic, served with the French resistance. He lived next to a Nazi headquarters and was arrested and deported to a camp in Germany for attempting to sabotage vehicles. He later escaped from the camp with three friends. Raymond Gaona’h attended the D-Day commemorations for the first time this year. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Sevak Hancerli, 23, from Paris, sits in a trenches in the WWII reenactors camp of Old Abe next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, France, Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as an American soldier, he is attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)
Sevak Hancerli, 23, from Paris, sits in a trenches in the WWII reenactors camp of Old Abe next to Saint-Come-du-Mont, Normandy, France, Monday June 3, 2019. Dressed as an American soldier, he is attending the D-Day commemorations for the first time. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)