Going to Normandy - To Wear or not To Wear Class B???

[kies99]

I will be in Europe for my daughters World Championship competition and will have the opportunity to visit the Normandy coast for a single day in April. I'm debating on whether to wear my Class B uniform or not. I would wear no insignia or patches other than the piping on my garrison cap. At the very least I'll be wearing my service shoes and possibly my M41.

What do you guys think?

[mburch66]

Honestly, that's up to you and your comfort level. If it were June, I would say you would NOT look out of place. April you might see others doing it, but not tons. If it were me, I would be bringing my M41 at the least to say "it has been there." Hell, I would even probably get it wet in the surf! As an aside, I took my USMC boondockers and P41s on a work trip to California so I could get them dunked in the Pacific Ocean. Yeah, I drew some looks, but it was worth it!

[Guinness]

My first question is why? Are you going for the "look at me" factor? By wearing your uniform, and subsequently drawing attention to yourself, are you hoping to create an opportunity to enhance other people's visit? Is it to get sand & water from the actual site on your impression so you can "better-connect" with the events of the past? Maybe for a photo-op; Here I am in my kit standing on Omaha Beach...

I don't suppose there are any right or wrong answers here. You can't really drive through Gettysburg, for instance, on any given weekend without seeing somebody in Civil War kit, or at least a portion of their uniform. I guess in the end it's a matter of what your own comfort level and what would, at the same time, be respectful given the nature of the place. A few years back, a friend of mine brought me a vile of sand from each of the five beaches. Very cool and it sits proudly in my office.

Me, I'd keep it low key if I took my kit at all; maybe just give it all a good soaking in the surf for that "it's really been there" kind of karma.

Save travels and enjoy the history.

-Guinness

[kies99]

Thanks for the responses.

Definitly NOT going for the wow factor or to impress anyone. It would be to better connect to the past. I at least plan on my boots so I can wear them on the sand and in the surf. This will probably be my one and only chance to ever get there so I'm up in the air on what I'm going to do.

[gunner9091]

will have two things to have your gear and say its been I would wear my boots and my m41 so like some one else said on here that you would have the ability to say my boots have been on the sand at Normandy and so has my field jacket.

[cqm]

I would say just bring some items with you and put them in the channel / sand on the beach. Unless you strongly feel that wearing the uniform is going to pay honor and respect to the fallen on the beaches. Thats your call.

[jenks]

Hey, unless anybody on here is helping you pay for the trip it's completely up to you what you do when you get there. Do what feels right to you.

[gunner9091]

I agree with Jenks its ultimately up you I agree with cqm and jenks. and I see both sides lol. so in end have great time there take lots of pics

[GyreneGreen]

I understand the dilemma. I am going to Alsace this May with veterans of the 100th ID and I am not sure if I want to bring my uniform. I only plan on wearing it for a wreath laying ceremony with some French reenactors I know. I would really like to bring my stuff, but I don't want to take any attention away from the veterans that will be there.

[kies99]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll just do the boots and M41 and street clothes.