The ABCs of D-Day Celebrations

Many seniors who are World War II veterans will be attending reunions and commemorative events in 1994 during the 50th anniversary year of the Allied invasion of Normandy, France.

The anniversaries and commemorations of invasions and victories since the beginning of America’s entry into World War II, in 1941, have drawn thousands of veterans to Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal and other sites all over the world.

The U.S. Department of Defense has published a schedule of more than 25 commemorative war-related events taking place in England, France and the United States in 1994. For a free copy, write to Director, DOD Commemorative Committee, HDQA Attn.: SACC 3E524, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20310-0107.

In addition, the Washington-based American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) publishes a comprehensive illustrated booklet, “American Memorials and Overseas Military Cemeteries,” dating from April, 1917, the date of U.S. entry into World War I. The free booklet provides names, location maps, visiting hours and general information on each cemetery and monument. To obtain a copy, send a card or letter to ABMC, 5127 Pulaski Building, 20 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20314-0300.

Commemorative World War II tours are being offered by a variety of travel companies.

Boston-based Grand Circle Travel is sponsoring a 50th-anniversary tour of Normandy, with a one-time departure date of May 24, 1994. It’s a 15-day trip that includes England and France, plus exclusive reserved seating for the commemorative ceremonies at Normandy. Tour price is $3,295 per person, including round-trip air fare from Boston (add $378 per person from Los Angeles) plus full breakfast daily, one lunch and seven dinners.

Grand Circle also offers a pre-trip tour of London for seven days at $595 per person, and a five-day post-trip tour of France’s Loire Valley for $695. For a brochure or additional information, call Grand Circle Travel at (800) 859-0852.

British Airways has three escorted tours tied to D-day. Prices quoted below are per person, double occupancy. Costs vary according to date selected for departure, and include round-trip air fare from New York. For departure from West Coast cities, add from $187 to $216 per person, round trip, depending on the tour selected and choice of departure date.

* Normandy: 10 days; arrival in France via overnight ferry across the English Channel, visits to D-day staging areas, Utah and Omaha beach landing sites and many other war-related locations in England and France. Price: $1,698-$1,998.

* The Ardennes: 9 days; visits to World War II battlefields and war-related sites in Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium, including the site of the Battle of the Bulge, the famous “Bridge Too Far” at Arnhem, and the House of Anne Frank. $1,498-$1,785.

* U.S./U.K. Air Bases: 10 days; focuses on British air bases from which American and Royal Air Force pilots launched key Allied bombing raids, plus many museums and sites of wartime significance. $1,269-$1,478.

For an illustrated brochure that gives a selection of departure and return dates, complete daily itineraries, full tour components including meals provided, and hotels utilized in the packages, contact your travel agent or call British Airways at (800) 262-2422.

Grandtravel, which specializes in tours for mature travelers with grandchildren, is offering a 15-day tour, “Dover to Calais--World War II Remembered.” The tour does not attempt to make the war the entire focus of the trip, but rather includes sightseeing in London, Salisbury, Brighton, Stonehenge, Portsmouth and Canterbury.

Departure date for grandparents with children ages 7-11 is June 21, 1994. For those with kids 12-17, departure is July 31. Prices include breakfast, dinner and snacks each day, plus entrance fees, service charges and deluxe hotel, including taxes and a Grandtravel escort throughout. The double-occupancy is $4,335 per adult and $4,295 per child. Triple occupancy is $4,180 per adult and $4,140 per child. Air fare is not included. Each tour is limited to 20 persons.

For a brochure, write Grandtravel, 6900 Wisconsin Ave., No. 706, Chevy Chase, Md. 20815, or call (800) 247-7651.