R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 39

D-Day — Pointe du Hoc

In honor of D-Day, 6 June 1944, I am rerunning this entry from my D-Day series, so disregard the first two sentences in the next paragraph:

All this week I’ll be rerunning my six-part series on the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. Next week I’ll return you to our Baltic trip and beyond. In the meantime, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Operation Neptune (the Normandy landings) and Operation Overlord (the Battle of Normandy) in the event we now collectively refer to as D-Day:

...

D-Day — Remembering John Steele, 82nd Airborne

All this week I’ll be rerunning my series on the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. Next week I’ll return you to our Iceland/Ireland trip and beyond. In the meantime, in commemoration of the 79th anniversary of Operation Neptune (the Normandy landings) and Operation Overlord (the Battle of Normandy) in the event we now collectively refer to as D-Day:

Paratroopers in Stained Glass

In keeping with Monday’s Memorial Day post and Wednesday’s commemoration of D-Day, I dedicate today’s post to the me...

D-Day — Sainte-Mère-Église

All this week I’ll be rerunning my series on the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. Next week I’ll return you to our Iceland/Ireland trip and beyond. In the meantime, in commemoration of the 79th anniversary of Operation Neptune (the Normandy landings) and Operation Overlord (the Battle of Normandy) in the event we now collectively refer to as D-Day:

82nd Airborne commemorated in stained glass

The D-Day invasion of Normandy began shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944, when English and American...

D-Day — Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

On this Memorial Day weekend I’ll repeat this photo series from 2012:

Map of the D-Day Normandy Invasion

The map depicted above overlooks Omaha Beach. Behind that map lies the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

This military cemetery is a territorial concession granted by France to the United States, so this ground is fully administered and maintained by the U.S. government.

Some of the 1,557 names of unrecovered or missing U.S. servicem...

Memorial Week Part 3

USS Arizona’s final resting place

This week I commemorate Memorial Day with repeat articles from the Normandy American Memorial Cemetery and Memorial, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. Next week I will commemorate the 73rd anniversary of one of the greatest invasions in military history, the D-Day Invasion of June 6, 1944.

USS Arizona Memorial:

It’s a short hop, or sail in this case, from Hilo on the Big Island to Honolulu on the island of Oahu.  Urs...

Memorial Week Part 2

 

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

This week I commemorate Memorial Day with repeat articles from the Normandy American Memorial Cemetery and Memorial, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. Next week I will commemorate the 73rd anniversary of one of the greatest invasions in military history, the D-Day Invasion of June 6, 1944.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific:

Lisa and Al Fittipaldi joined Ursula and me for a ride that would take us hi...

Memorial Week Part 1

This week I commemorate Memorial Day with repeat articles from the Normandy American Memorial Cemetery and Memorial, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. Next week I will commemorate the 73rd anniversary of one of the greatest invasions in military history, the D-Day Invasion of June 6, 1944.

Lest We Forget — No, It’s Not National Barbecue Day:

We seem as a society to forget what this weekend really commemorates.  Memorial Day weekend does not mark the...

The Meaning of Memorial Day

Normandy American Cemetery, France

Honorably discharged veterans of the military are frequently thanked on this day for their service to their nation.  And although we are grateful for the thanks, veterans would like to remind you that Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day and also known as Remembrance Day to our Commonwealth Cousins) is the time to celebrate military service both past and present.  Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of a grateful ...

Fun Photo Friday — Belfast Favorites

Angry Bird

Several years ago I published a series of blog articles on filtering black & white photographs to get the most out of them. I came across a photo in this series that demonstrates color filtering in stark terms. I’ll start with the color original:

The original photo

Then convert it using red filtering, which lightens the reds and darkens the blues:

Red filtered conversion to black & white

And, lastly, a conversion using green filtering. Notice the opposite effect:

Green...

Jewel of the Seas — Belfast; St George’s Market

St George’s Market, Belfast, Northern Ireland

On this visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ursula was hot to visit St George’s Market. This is the last Victorian market in Belfast, and the original market on this site dates back to the 1890s. Inside you’ll find restaurants, food vendors, souvenirs, arts & crafts, clothing & accessories, jewelry, flower arrangements and other plants, and antiques & collectibles. Yes, you can spend hours perusing all the vendors and their offerings. We certainly...