Motor March

A reenactment

Operation Neptune

 D plus 65 years

May 16, 2009

65 years ago throughout the United States and the United Kingdom troops were preparing for the invasion that would breach Hitler’s Atlantic wall. The code name for that build up was called Operation Neptune.

A Motor March was the large scale transfer of men an equipment from one camp to another. Motor Marches occurred in the United Kingdom as Allied troops moved from their billeting area to staging areas for the invasion. Thousands of troops would board hundreds of trucks and move in convoy from one camp to the next. In the US troops would do the same when moving from training camps to train stations or embarkation ports on their passage to Europe ,the Pacific, or their duty station. 

The Historic Living History Reenacting unit  “26th Yankee Division” will be recreating one of these Motor Marches through the  Merrimack  River Valley of New Hampshire. They will travel in authentic WWII restored vehicles dressed in historic period uniforms portraying the Greatest Generation GI’s on their way to stage for the invasion of Europe. Exactly like the Yankee Division did 65 years previous. You are invited to watch this convoy as it winds it’s way up from Manchester to Laconia on historic Route 3. The convoy will be stopping at certain locations along the way and you are invited to meet with the troops at these stops.

We invite all to watch this historic convoy pass through your town.

The March will commence

Saturday May 16, 2009

March begins in Bedford NH at 09:30

Scheduled stops include the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen for a Wreath laying Ceremony at 12:00.

The New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton for a short private display at 14:00. 

Tentative Schedule of Events

The March will generally follow NH Rt 3 from Bedford to Laconia.

09:30 staging area Bedford, NH...March begins

10:30  First Stop (still waiting for location please check back)

12:00 Stop at NH Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH. Wreath laying Ceremony by 26YD.

13:00  Stop for Lunch (awaiting location)

14:00 Stop at NH Veterans Home, Tilton, NH. Meet and interact with Residents.

Press on the Motor March

New Hampshire Union Leader article

http://www.cckw.org/pdf/union_leader_motor_march_1.pdf

VeteransToday.com article