“When I was 8 years old, my father took me to my first WWII veterans’ reunion. I took my cassette recorder around with me and I “interviewed” the veterans my father introduced me to. That short weekend profoundly affected me and was the beginning of a lifetime passion to remember and honor the men and women who served this country in World War II.”
BRIDGE to HISTORY: Normandy
B2H is an intensive overseas weeklong immersive dive where we bring students, ages 8-12, to the cemeteries and battlefields of their forefathers. This is not a fieldtrip.
Starting in London and moving to Normandy, the students will participate in distinctive ceremonies at each of the American, British Commonwealth, and German cemeteries. They will visit all of the Invasion beaches, German bunkers, and some of the numerous monuments and memorial sites explaining the stories of D-Day and beyond.
Along the way the students will meet British veterans, engage with locals who were children during the war, and connect with their French counterparts from local Normandy schools.
““Bridge to History has changed my life.””
When the B2H students leave France, they will be commissioned to take what they have learned and experienced, internalize it, and return home with the goal of sharing and communicating with their peers and communities the importance of understanding our history and continuing the legacy we have been entrusted with.
The students will also carry home with them the personal stories of both living veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, stories to treasure and share with future generations long after the last WWII Veteran has passed.
The experiences I had as a child visiting cemeteries, battlefields, and meeting veterans defined my life. Our goal at Operation Meatball is for the Bridge to History Children’s Program to set the tone for a new generation of young people devoted to the perpetuation of our American heritage and committed to honoring and remembering the men and women who preserved it.
“June 6, 1944
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you... I have full confidence in your devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!”
GENERAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
(subject to change)
Day 1 - Travel Day - flight to London, England
Day 2 - Arrive in London. Churchill War Rooms, welcome dinner with British WW2 Veterans
Day 3 - Visit with the famous Chelsea Pensioners, evening bus to Portsmouth, overnight Ferry to Caen.
Day 4 - Arrive in Caen, France AM. Pegasus Bridge, Ranville Cemetery, “Welcome to France” dinner.
Day 5 - Commonwealth Beaches and Cemeteries. 2nd Night in Caen.
Day 6 - Drive to Carentan, meet with French counterparts, Utah Beach. German cemetery. Night in “American Sector.”
Day 7 - Jeep tour of towns and beaches liberated on D-Day. Picnic lunch. Dinner with WWII veteran and Children of Normandy. Night in “American Sector.”
Day 8 - Sunrise at Omaha Beach, Colleville American cemetery.
Day 9 - Depart France
What Does this cost?
Our program will be sponsored largely by generous backers and donors. However, we are asking each child to fundraise $500 (If you can raise more than $500-that would be incredible and only add to our experiences and help ensure more children in the future can participate). We believe personal investment creates a more fulfilling and hands-on experience. We’ve tried to keep the number low so it is attainable for the children (taking into account age and time).
As for the parent/escort, we ask for you to make a tax-deductible contribution of $1000 (this can be fundraised as well) to Operation Meatball. This will help cover the parent/escort’s flight cost, food, and accommodations for a one-of-a-kind experience in the UK and France, immersing both parent and child in the history that preserved our freedom today.
Sponsor a child
If you would like to partner with us, fill out the form below and one of our staff members will get back to you.