FREE Eurail Pass for US and Canadian WW2 Veterans

SalB: It will be interesting to find out how many free rail passes were distributed. I noticed that they had an offer for US D-Day Veterans and another offer for US non-veterans. I thought, perhaps, that they might have something for a US veteran – but not a D-Day veteran. In other words, me. (Turns out they don’t) But I signed on to that site and there is a section that is devoted to "Rail Europe." It directs you to a "1-800" number that turns out to be a porn sex talk number. After a few tries – and continuing to get the porn number – I tried the number using a "1-888" prefix and sure enough that got me to a live Rail Europe agent who would then direct me to the site "www.normandyremembers.com." (I could not make them understand that their site was referencing a porn sex talk phone number.) With regard to the new site that they direct you to, you need some guidance with that site as if you just go to the Rail Europe part of the site you would be directed (again) to the porn telephone number. (I spent 2 hours on the process and managed to talk to 6 different Rail Europe agents. Five of these agents were not very helpful but the music you listened to when placed on hold for inordinate lengths of time was very soothing) If an 89 year old with an email address makes it that far he would have to intuitively know to concentrate on the LEFT HAND part of the screen that relates to Badge Credentials. After the veteran is able to prove his credentials, he would then be directed to another website. Amazingly ponderous. Interestingly, American Airlines is also involved and is offering these 80 year old heroes airline tickets to France for about 25% MORE than they could otherwise buy without the promotion. With the resources available to the French and US Governments, they should actively seek out these heroes and FED EX them plane, train, and hotel arrangements – all gratis. The way they are conducting this part of the remembrance is an outrage. Donerail

How absolutely amazine. I can’t believe you persisted! Sounds like a travesty. Now I feel bad for posting it.

I guess if these guys could survive Normandy and the ensuing years, they can figure out how to get to France the least expensive way and to see what they want to see. I have a feeling when I’m 89 it won’t bother me to spend a few extra dollars to see something really special.

We’ll be in London on D-Day. It’s our 40th wedding anniversary and we wanted to celebrate it someplace really different . . . different to us anyway. Our favorite hotel in Annecy was booked so we opted for our first trip to London. We forgot it was D-Day until we started reading all the hoopla about it. (We always forget it’s D-Day!)

Thanks for checking the web site. I hope people read your post too.

SalB and Donerail,

Thanks a lot for bringing this to the forums attention. We have placed a call to Rail Europe to ask them how many veterans had taken them on the offer.

I don’t know if it’s because of donerail post, but at least the telephone number has been fixed on the fgto’s website.

We’ll take this opportunity to add that hotels in and around the D-Day celebrations are completely full at this time and that even though the veterans may get there free, there is probably no place to sleep in a 300 km radius. If there are D-Day veterans looking to participate in the D-Day celebrations, please contact us on this forum and we will help you in any way we can.

We agree with Donerail that this is not a way to treat such very important people. In fact, you start wondering why the French government has not invited all living D-Day veterans to participate in the celebrations, at France’s expense. Apart from the obvious goodwill it would spread, it seems the only moral thing to do. The idea of a D-Day veteran, in good enough health to travel, who cannot make it to Bayeux for financial reasons, is indeed quite troubling.

We, at France.com trully regret that we cannot pick up the tab, but we will be happy to assist any D-Day veteran who wishes to partake in the anniversary of this unique event, and we will help in any way we can: making phone calls and sending faxes to the proper authorities, helping with the translations of documents, doing what needs to be done.

To give readers an idea of how difficult it is to find a room near Bayeux, we had the descendent and relative of no less than 2 US presidents asking for a room on June 6th in Bayeux. Maybe his name will get him a room, but even that is doubtful at this stage.

We’re waiting to hear from Rail Europe. We’ll see what they say.

Thanks,
FC

FRANCE.COM ADMIN: Thank you. It is nice to see some good human interaction in this media. visitfrance.travel is a great site. Donerail

SalB: This is maybe a great thread that you have opened up. It is amazing how sold out the lodging is around D-Day. The Remembrances continue on for a number of weeks throughout the region. Maybe we can get a groundswell of support going for the French/American governments and airlines/hotels to seek out the American/British/Canadian/Polish (and others?) veterans of D-Day and bring them over all expenses paid for the Remembrances. I agree with visitfrance.travel, it would be more appropriate to do it that way. Probably too late and maybe a tad impractical at this point. "Saving Private Ryan" was such a great movie. I think I will watch it again around D-Day. Donerail

That is so nice of France.com. I hope at least a few people can take advantage of the offer, even though it is so late. If the governments had started planning earlier, they could have arranged stays in private homes. That would have been wonderful for everyone concerned . . . a good way to get rid of some of the bad feelings we’ve had between the countries lately.

I’m so glad they got the phone number fixed. I was feeling terrible about putting the post up and then having these fellows calling an obviously wrong telephone number.

It’s funny that we didn’t have any trouble getting a hotel room in London on D-Day. It never even occurred to us there would be a problem. Of course, we were thinking of our 40th anniversary, not D-Day. Are the British doing anything in the way of celebration or is it all in France? Just curious.

At any rate, thanks so much France.com.

This made the news today:

The French government has chosen 99 WWII veterans to be given one of France’s highest honors: they will be named Knights of the Legion of Honor.

One detail that is important is that for those chosen to be given this award, they will "also be receiving an all expense paid trip to Paris so they can accept this award in person. "

So the French government did do this at a somewhat smaller scale than we would have liked, but they are taking care of some veterans. In fact these veterans are staying at the Meurice and other Paris Palaces free of charge.

We thought it was important to set the record straight on this forum.

FC

hi there im a 28year old irish documentry maker looking for help.
My grandfather gave a weather report from the west of ireland that is credited with delaying the d-day landings for 1 day and ensuring suitable weather on the western coasts.After years of hearing storys from my family i would now like to tell this story using my skills , A member of my family is planing a trip to france to tour the d-day sites i intend to follow him and record the event and would be intrested in meeting with sumbody who took part in the landings or a family member of a vetern as to bring another aspect to the documentry.If you think you can help me please contact me via e-mail fergswee@gmail.com. I plan to take this trip in early 2008.

Many thanks Fergus Sweeney

Dear Sir or Madam!

My name is Pontus Folkesson and I am doing a course in Social Science at Per Brahe sixth-forth center in Jönköping, Sweden. I am 18 years old. History has always been one of my greatest interests, mayby because my grandfather was in the RAF and served as a non-commissoned officer in Dumfries. I have been in Dumfries a couple of times and visited the museum. It was very interesting. If my grandfather was alive I would interview him about the war.
One of my greatest dreams concearning history, is to take a trip to Normandie in France and see the historical sites from D-day. I wish to interview and immortalize those soldiers, that have survived the invasion of occupied Europe, by making a documentary film and a booklet, before it’s to late. These soldiers are the only ones who know what it was like in reality.
I have chosen to do this project with a friend of mine, Alexander Boley. To carry through this project I have to make a journey to Normandie in France and I would also like to visit the Imperial War Museum in London. We are searching for contacts of people who have survived the war and taken part in the invasion or in some other respect have been in the war. We would be gratefull if you could give us some tips about were to look, and wonder if you have any contact with survivors. Looking forward to your reply, please answer soon.

Thank you before hand
Greetings

Pontus Folkesson & Alexander Boley
Email: pontusf_90@hotmail.com

I would be very grateful if i could get a World war II veterans point of view that was involved with Operation Overload (D-Day). My research paper is needed for my 8th grade project and is needed in order for me to go to High School.