We arrive in Arizona the afternoon of 23 March, (Wednesday), and our “Mission Report” will be the following Sunday, 27 March, at the Galveston 3rd Ward. Sacrament Meeting starts at 1:00 PM.
The Galveston 3rd Ward is located at 1950 W Galveston St, CHANDLER, AZ 85224. It's on the NE corner of Galveston Street and Dobson Road.
CLICK HERE for a Google map.
Serving 18 months away from home, family and friends was a walk in the park, compared to our final week in London. There were lots of hugs, kisses and tears as we gathered at the "Goodbye Dinners". We’ve said goodbye more than I care to count!
We really love BBQ, so Monday's dinner was held at Bill Wyman’s Sticky Fingers, (where the menu prices are almost reasonable on Monday night). Bill Wyman was a member of The Rolling Stones, and inside, his memorabilia and gold records are posted on the walls like a Hard Rock Café. We enjoyed some great BBQ with Senior missionaries and Family History staff members.
Friday's farewell dinner was held at Sister Hintze's home with the FHC missionaries.
Sunday, the London North Ward arranged a Munch 'n Mingle after church. That was quite difficult, because those Saints have become so dear to us.
Monday evening, we’ll attend a Senior Missionary Family Home Evening.
We are mostly packed, and ready for Tuesday afternoon. That’s when the two APs (Assistants to the President), will drive us to a hotel near Heathrow airport where we’ll spend the night. We have an early flight Wednesday morning, and we don’t want the hassle of trying to get to Heathrow in the morning. My heart would not be able to take it!
SPEAKING IN SACRAMENT MEETING
We arrive in Arizona the afternoon of 23 March, (Wednesday), but it will be a while before we speak in Church. That's because the three following Sundays involve Ward Conference, General Conference, and Fast Sunday.
The first available Sunday for our “Mission Report” is 17 April at the Galveston 3rd Ward. Sacrament Meeting starts at 1:00 PM.
The Galveston 3rd Ward is located at 1950 W Galveston St, CHANDLER, AZ 85224. It's on the NE corner of Galveston Street and Dobson Road.
CLICK HERE for a Google map.
I hope you don’t think this is a shameless plea to beg folks to come to church and hear the Prices speak! Writing this seems like I’m writing my death notice, and I should add, "In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity." But really, it’s just information that you might find handy.
Gerry said she'll be 'spobbing' - a combination of speaking and sobbing. Hopefully, I'll just be speaking.
What a wonderful mission we have had. The Lord knows each of us – by name – and he certainly knew my talents and where I could grow and stretch.
Thursday, 17 March. We visited the Royal Albert Hall one LAST time. This event was the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Classical Spectacular”. It included the Royal Choral Society (it’s not the Tabernacle Choir, but nevertheless, a very good choir), Band of the Welsh Guards, Wynne Evans (tenor) and Kevin Greenlaw (baritone). 
The night was amazing. They started out with “2001 Space Odyssey”, and then it just got better and better! For the most part, the classics were favorites that everyone enjoys. Evans and Greenlaw sang arias from opera like “Funiculi, Funicula” and “Toreador’s Song” from Carmen. The night was topped off with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”.
I don’t think you can really enjoy “1812” until you hear and see it with cannons and muskets fired by the Moscow Militia. We were seated about 20 feet below one of the two cannons in the Royal Albert. I’ll bet the folks downrange of the cannons were a bit surprised, when missiles that looked like shooting stars, came right at them. Fortunately they had a short life and were spent harmless, just slightly before they reached the seats!
It was a patriotically touching night. The audience, with British flags waving, joined in the chorus to songs that were written when the British Empire ruled 25% of the world, and their Navy had a vital role. Songs like, “Rule, Britannia!”
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.
The audience also sang the chorus to “Land of Hope and Glory” (“Pomp and Circumstance”)
Statistical studies indicate that most Britons aren’t convince that there is a God. But, as I heard the choruses of “God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet”, I felt their national pride and enthusiasm for God’s protection. It was a wonderful snapshot of my time in England, and I’ll shall never forget it. That is a tender memory, and I will hold it dear.
Gerry knew the chorus for “Land of Hope and Glory”, and I asked her how in the world she was able to sing along? Her mother played Pomp and Circumstance on the organ for Pima High graduations, and she taught Gerry the words.
I must have looked very British as I lip synced the choruses, because the lady next to me asked, (in a very Spanish accent), “Is Rule Britannia! your national anthem.” I mustered up my best cowboy accent and said, “Shucks, I don’t think so ma'am. I think it’s God Save the Queen – at least for now. But you can’t trust me. I’m just a cowboy from Arizona.”
She turned to her friend and said, in Spanish, “I just met a cowboy from Arizona.”
It was a touching and emotional night.
Bayeux is the starting point for all Normandy D-day tours.
TOUR COMPANY: I recommend Normandy Sightseeing Tours http://www.normandy-sightseeing-tours.com/ or you can purchase a tour from their American broker – Viator www.viator.com
We went on a full day tour of the American sites. At Normandy Sightseeing Tours, they call it the “Utah Beach full day tour”
Normandy Sightseeing Tours will pick you up at your hotel. Tour group maximum is eight. They use a very comfortable van and the guides are fabulous.
HOTEL: I really like the Churchill Hotel: http://www.hotel-churchill.fr/en.php in Bayeux. It is a few hundred meters from the Bayeux Tapestry Museum and the Bayeux Cathedral. The staff are friendly and attentive. If you are traveling April through September, be sure to book early!
Bayeux Tapestry Museum, Open: 2:00-6:00 €7.80 each.
STARTING IN LONDON: If you are starting in London, you may book at Eurostar: http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/index.jsp to Gare du Nord in Paris.
PUBLIC TRANSPORATION: The Eurostar onboard magazine has a section that tells you how to travel from Gare du Nord to St Lazare via public transportation, such as the RER. If you’re not comfortable figuring out the RER, take a taxi.
TAXIS IN PARIS: At Gare du Nord, there’s a long cue for taxis. (The Eurostar holds a lot of people). We waited about 15 minutes. The ride to St. Lazare (pronounced San Laz-r) takes 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the traffic, and costs €10-12.
FRENCH TRAINS: The trains from St. Lazar Station in Paris stop in Caen, Bayeux and terminate in Cherbourg. The trip from Paris to Bayeux takes 2 hours 5 minutes. Board the Cherbourg train.
You can buy tickets to Bayeux at St. Lazare station, or purchase them in advance at Rail Europe: http://raileurope.co.uk/
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Eurostar dep London St Pancras station at 7:22 am. Arrive Gare du Nord Paris 10:47 am. (2 hrs 25 min trip) (Set watches ahead ONE HOUR).
Taxi to St Lazare (12 minute ride)
Depart Paris St. Lazare at 12:10 pm. Arrive Bayeux 2:15 pm. (2 hrs 5 min trip)
RETURN: Depart Bayeux at 8:41 am. Arrive Paris Saint Lazare at 10:46 am. (2 hr 5 min)
Taxi to Gare du Nord Paris – 12 minute ride
Depart Gare du Nord Paris at 12:13 pm. Arrive St Pancras London at 1:29 pm. (2 hr 16 min) (Set watches back one hour)
TAXIS IN BAYEUX: Minimum charge is €6. From the train station to the Churchill Hotel is €6
Tuesday, 8 March
Our guide was a native of the area – Francis. He had a binder of applicable photos, and hundreds more on his iPad. We could tell that Francis was passionate about the invasion and liberation. I learned a great deal from him.
THE GERMAN CEMETERY
Francis first took us to the German war cemetery. After the D-day landings, all the soldiers – American, British, Canadian and German, were buried in one cemetery. Later, the allies were given land for their cemeteries, leaving the Germans without a nice resting place. Finding land for the site was difficult, for the French did not have fond memories of the Germans. Eventually, money was raised and land found. Their 21,300 headstones are flat.
STE MERE EGLISE
We next traveled to Ste Mère Eglise. The paratroopers landed everywhere, but where they had planned. The early (1:40 AM) landings, directly on the town, resulted in heavy casualties for the paratroopers. Some buildings near the church were on fire that night, and they illuminated the sky. Everyone was fighting the fire, including the German soldiers. The American soldiers were easy targets and some were sucked into the fire. Many hanging from trees and utility poles were shot before they could cut loose.
In the 1962 movie, “The Longest Day”, Red Buttons played John Steele, (a real live soldier), who had his parachute caught on the church’s roof.
The French have memorialized John Steele, hanging from the roof. He was actually on the other side of the church, where the Germans did not see him – surviving the war.
However, not many walk to the back of the church, so there hangs John – or his image - on the front side, facing the parking lot.
The Church’s medieval stained glass was destroyed during the war, but the people replaced them with wonderful scenes honoring the paratroopers who liberated Ste Mère Eglise.
A museum and visitor center has been built near the church, with a monument entitled, “The Day They Came.”
THE MOVIE
In the early 1960s, when “The Longest Day” was filmed, they used the actual battle sites - Ste Mère Eglise, Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Sword, Gold and Juno. By the time movies like “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers” were in production, too many antennae and monuments had been erected on the Normandy beaches. Those movies were filmed in Ireland.
THE BEACH INVASION SITES
This was an “American” tour, so only sites involving US forces were visited. The tour took nine hours.
Signs like this are scattered throughout the Normandy battle grounds. They are posted on the site of the soldier’s death.
HEROS ALL OVER THE PLACE!
During the invasion, this church in Angoville au Plain was turned into a medical station. Medics Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore saved over 80 lives here – they lost but one soldier. German soldiers found them, but when they saw that Wright and Moore were treating everyone - Germans too, they departed.
SAD NOTE: France has 40,000 churches, but only 15,000 priests. 25,000 churches like the one pictured above are no longer active. The parishioners in Angoville au Plain travel to Ste Mère Eglise.
POINTE DU HOC
Pointe du Hoc (old French for “Hook Point”), was a “big gun” site. Colonel Rudder’s 2nd Ranger Battalion were charged with scaling the 90 foot cliffs and destroying the guns. They did it, but at a great cost. It’s not as well known as Utah and Omaha Beach. However, the loses at Pointe du Hoc were greater (percentage wise) those on Omaha Beach. Of the 225 Rangers, 135 were killed or wounded.
Gerry is standing in one of the hundreds of bomb craters at Pointe du Hoc. Over the years, they’ve become shallower. Many German soldiers were killed and never found – so each crater is considered a grave site.
UTAH BEACH
32,000 Americans landed here. They lost 200 men.
NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL & OMAHA BEACH
We had seen places that put a few tears in the eyes, but this place is very tender and sweet. Beautiful – US land, given to us by the French. When this cemetery was established, families were given the choice of having their loved ones returned to the United States, or buried here, overlooking Omaha Beach. 14,000 chose to have the remains returned, and 9,387 Americans rest here. About 300 of them are unknown.
The cemetery is located on the bluffs overlooking Omaha Beach where over 43,000 soldiers fought. 3,000 paid the ultimate price.
FRENCH FAMILIES
In 2000, a French couple founded Les Fleurs de la Memoire, which adopts the graves of American servicemen who died during the Normandy invasion of World War II. The volunteer group encourages French families to lay flowers on the graves when the Americans' own families can't do it.
Over 8,000 French families have adopted a grave, and this commitment passes from the parents to the children and their children. This assures that these men and women will be remembered for years and years.
"Sometimes people take flowers from their own gardens. And they say it is like a son, like a cousin, like a brother. It is a member of the family."
7 March. After arriving at Gare du Nord Paris, we made our way to Paris St. Lazare train station for the 2 hour trip to Bayeux in Normandy, (marked by the “A” pin on the map).
Bayeux, (pronounced Bye-you), was the first town liberated by the allies after D-day, and was never harmed. However, Caen, 20 miles to the Southeast, was brutally destroyed (75% of it), and has been rebuilt. All the Normandy D-day tours begin in Bayeux.
We checked into the Hotel Churchill, and then walked a short distance to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum.
Now, I’ve seen lots of tapestries, and most of the time I politely say, “That was very nice.” But this is different. It’s not really a tapestry, but a 1.6’ x 225’ embroidered cloth, that depicts the story of William, Duke of Normandy, and how he became William the Conqueror, and King of England. It “probably” dates back to 1077, and was done in pictures so the parishioners, who were illiterate, could understand the story.
Most everyone knows that William the Conqueror defeated Kind Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. You knew that, right? Well, now you do. Do you know why a Norman like William would travel from France to fight a battle in England? I wasn’t quite sure, until I visited the Tapestry Museum. I know your time is precious, so I’ll try to keep the story succinct.
Edward the Confessor, childless and nearing death, wanted his cousin, William, the Duke of Normandy, to succeed him. In 1064, he sent his brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, the Earl of Wessex, to Bayeux, Normandy, to inform William of the planned succession. During the crossing, Harold was blown off course, and captured by unfriendly forces. William ransomed Harold and saved his life. Together, William and Harold went off to battle and defeated Conan II, Duke of Brittany. On that occasion, William knighted Harold and with his hand on religious relics, Harold swore loyalty to William.
Harold returned to England, and shortly thereafter, Edward the Confessor died. Harold did not want a Norman king. He was a Saxon, and felt that Saxons should rule England. Ignoring Edward’s desires, and his pledge of loyalty to William, Harold Godwinson was crowned King in January, 1066. William gathered an army of Normans to teach Harold that it is not nice to break an oath of loyalty and sneak upon the throne.
At the Battle of Hastings, Harold was shot in the eye with a Norman arrow, and English history changed dramatically.
William then set about building castles and fortresses throughout England – places like the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. He didn’t want someone else doing as he had done – conquering England.
There’s no need to be charitable or polite. This tapestry is quite a treasure, and the museum is very well done. I loved it!
We then visited the Bayeux Cathedral (1077) and walked about the town. I love medieval cathedrals and this one is especially beautiful inside and out.
Bayeux is a beautiful and gracious medieval city. If our French faltered – and it often did – no problem! The people of Normandy did their best to speak English and make us feel welcome. What wonderful people in Normandy!
THE REST OF THE STORY
Near the British War Cemetery in Bayeux, there is a memorial that commemorates those killed in the Battle of Normandy, and the advance to the Seine from 6th June to 29th August 1944, but have no known grave. Inscribed on the top is, “NOS A GULIELMO VICTI VICTORIS PATRIAM LIBERAVIMUS”
Freely translated, it means: "We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror's native land."
Freedom comes at a terrible price. In the Bayeux War Cemetery, 4,144 British Commonwealth soldiers have been buried.
Monday, 7 March, we boarded the Eurostar for the 2 hrs 25 min trip to Paris. Speeds vary, depending on the track and proximity to people, but advertised top speed is 186 mph. The Eurostar is in the Chunnel (English Channel Tunnel)for only 20 minutes.
I wasn’t even sure we were in the Chunnel because since we had left London’s St. Pancras Station, we had traveled in other tunnels. When I noticed that the cars were driving on the right side of the road – we were in France.
THE CHUNNEL is 31 miles long, from the English entry point of Folkestone near Dover, to the French exit near Calais.
The Chunnel’s Lowest point is 250 feet below sea level.
IMMIGRATION is easy, because French officers check your passport in London, and for the return, UK officers take care of matters in Paris.
In Britain, when you are laid off from work, they have a very nice phrase, that goes something like this: "He was made redundant." Almost takes the sting out of a terrible situation, doesn’t it? That's how I feel right now - Redundant.
2 March, Tuesday afternoon, Sister Price and I had our final interview with President Patch. Then, we went to their flat and enjoyed our farewell dinner with he and Sister Patch. We really enjoyed being with them, and we’ll really miss their love and leadership.
Sharon Hintze, the London Family History Centre’s director, declared that Wednesday, 2 March, would be the last official day in the Centre for Elder and Sister Price. Not being ones to argue with Sister Hintze, we bowed to her desires, and Wednesday afternoon, we quietly walked away. That was somewhat surreal. I mean, where’s the brass band, bagpipes, and gold watch?! Of course, that’s not the last time we’ll see our friends. We’ll have one last Senior Missionary Family Home Evening on the 21st, and a farewell dinner with the Family History Centre missionaries on the 18th.
3 March, Thursday afternoon, our nephew and his wife – Lea and Shanna Hunt, arrived for a ten day visit. Since then, we’ve re-visited lots of sites, plus a few new things, like the London Eye
. Each capsule holds about 25 people, and the ride lasts 30 minutes. At the top, (443 feet), it’s taller than any of the London buildings, so the view is quite wonderful.
A view of Parliament and Big Ben from mid Westminster Bridge.
Shanna is a Nurse Practitioner, and she really wanted to visit the Florence Nightingale Museum – a Nursing Mecca for her. I’m glad we went, because I had forgotten about Florence’s fantastic contribution to nursing and humanity.
During the Crimean War, she greatly improved hygiene, sanitation, and the survival rate. To the soldiers, she was an angel. We all owe her a great debt of gratitude.
< Shanna Hunt and Florence
We visited Westminster Abbey, where the coronations of Kings and Queens have been been held since 1066. (King Harold and William the Conqueror). It’s also the burial place for Kings, Queens, poets, authors, musicians (Handel), and scientists (Newton).
The Cabinet War Rooms – Underground headquarters from 1939 through 1945. It’s always a fascinating visit. It’s also the Churchill Museum.
During Churchill’s meetings with the military staff, if someone said something that he didn’t agree with, he’d pretend that his hearing was bad, and ask someone to explain it all over again.
Saturday, 5 March. Although the London Temple is closed for scheduled maintenance, Lea and Shanna wanted to visit the grounds. I’m always up for a train trip.
During the ground breaking ceremony for the London Temple in 1955, President David O. McKay spotted a very large oak on the property. He said that he felt it was special, and that the workers were to work around it. On our walk, Lee and Shanna were able to find the tree called the “David O. McKay Oak”.
The David O. McKay Oak was alive in 1492, when Columbus discovered the “new world”.
After retuning from the London Temple, we visited the Tower of London. Begun in 1066 (William the Conqueror), it’s still a royal palace, and the Crown Jewels are kept there.
Yeoman Warders, also known as Beef Eaters, lead entertaining one hour tours of the tower. Funny guys. These guys love to tease the Americans and test them on Kings and Queens of British history. Actually, our group did pretty good.
Sunday morning, we took Lea and Shanna to the London North Ward. They now fully appreciate the time and distance that we travel to and from church. Lea commented that while on his mission in Portugal, he never traveled an hour and half to and from church. Like Sister Price and I, they loved the ward and the members.
