American soldiers in uniforms spill out from the bars and cafes all around June 6 Square, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. The music of Phil Collins blares from loudspeakers, while American flags flutter from chimneys, windows, and even from around the neck of a golden retriever trotting by with her owner. Philippe Nekrassoff, a local deputy mayor, describes the scene as he makes his way across the square, with U.S. paratroopers playing soccer with local teenagers. Ste.-Mère-Église, a small town in northwest Normandy, was the first to be liberated on the western front on June 6, 1944. The town’s deep relationship with U.S. paratroopers is evident in its annual D-Day commemorations, with parades, ceremonies, concerts, and even a parachute jump by current U.S. paratroopers. Statues, plaques, and historical panels can be found throughout the town, honoring the American soldiers who fought for their freedom. Despite the town’s unabashedly American atmosphere, the connection between the residents and the veterans is sincere and beautiful. The town’s mayor, Marc Lefèvre, highlights the impact of the sacrifices made by the American soldiers, with thousands buried in cemeteries around the village. Simone Renaud, the mayor’s wife, formed the Friends of American Veterans association to host American veterans in their homes during the annual commemorations. The town’s residents have formed lasting friendships with the families of fallen soldiers, continuing to honor their memory to this day. The legacy of liberation and sacrifice lives on in Ste.-Mère-Église, where the bond between the town and the American soldiers remains unbreakable.
