Ray and Cristy Pfeiffer, the owners of Historic Tours have returned from Normandy to their Florida research office.
Their 2006 season was one of their busiest and most successful. They operated tours for The History Channel, their second Easy Company 506th P.I.R., 101st Airborne Division WWII Commemorative Tour with "Wild Bill" Guarnere and "Babe" Heffron and their third tour for the Appalachian College Association among others.
They are looking forward to their:
25TH YEAR OF EXCEEDING CLIENT EXPECTATIONS
All Tours Are Open To The Public
"Don't outsource our American History"
Choose only an American Tour Guide!
Historic Tours does not sub-contract it's tours to European companies as others do.
If you are considering another American tour operator, ask to speak personally with your Tour Guide not a "Tour Escort".
When we began operating World War II commemorative tours in 1983, most of our tour members were World War II veterans and their spouses. However today our tours are made up of Americans and Europeans of all ages. The 50th anniversary commemorations of World War II led to renewed interest in the period. The victory in the Cold War has also given the peoples of America and our allies the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made in the long struggles against Nazism and Communism. In addition the release of Saving Private Ryan further increased the interest in the period among younger people. Our tour members are of all ages.
The younger people are thrilled to be visiting the actual battle areas with veterans of World War II and Historic Tours takes pride in seeing that the veterans and/or their family members are properly honored. Our tour members are always delighted to find that Americans are warmly welcomed and thanked for our efforts to liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny and for preventing a Soviet takeover during the Cold War. At the receptions we arrange - all Americans are welcomed and thanked.
"Memories are the finest gift" so if you're thinking about giving a loved one a gift which will never be forgotten, consider a WWII tour with Historic Tours.
1. Join an existing group such as any of our 2007 tours.
2. Form your own group and work with us to design a custom tour for your veterans, business or community organization. Such tours may also be designed as incentive tours for your company.
3.If you are traveling to Normandy independently, contact Ray at our Normandy office, by e-mail (ww2tour@aol.com) and arrange for Ray to personally guide you around the beaches and battlefields of Normandy. Ray will be available for private guiding of the D-Day beaches and the Battle of Normandy beginning in the summer of 2007. You may also want to join our D-Day Commemorative Tour for independent travelers over the June 6th period, 2007.
Note: In the past, we also designed personal itineraries for those who wished to travel independently. However the interest in group tours is so great that we have suspended this service. We regret that we can not recommend any local tour operators in Europe for those may wish to travel independently. We recommend that you join one of our tours. Visiting these areas "on your own" can be difficult, frustrating and will most likely cost much more than joining one of our group tours. In addition, you will probably miss many of the areas to be seen and will not have the input of Cristy and Ray's insights into the history and background.
Tours For 2007
2007 will be our 25th year of operating
World War II Commemorative Tours!
D-DAY AND GENERAL PATTON’S 3RD ARMY IN NORMANDY WWII COMMEMORATIVE TOUR FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELERS
PARIS & NORMANDY JUNE 4 – 11, 2007
Photo presented by Avranches to tour members on our 1985 4th Armored Division Assoc. Tour
This new itinerary has been designed for those traveling to Normandy for the first time and for those Americans who have already traveled to Normandy, but who wish to explore more of the region. Over the past 25 years, Historic Tours has taken thousands of Americans to Normandy and many of our tour members expressed a wish to see more of the history and the beauty of the region. Historic Tours has specialized in tours for many of the gallant units of General Patton’s Third Army and we wish to share our knowledge with you. For this program, Historic Tours is offering a $100 per person discount for anyone who has traveled with us before on either a group or private tour. The tour is designed with flexibility and we will spend 1 night near Paris and 6 nights in the newly renovated and air-conditioned Novotel Centre Hotel in delightful Bayeux. We’ll also attend the official 63rd anniversary of D-Day commemorations at the Normandy American Cemetery and attend the planned dedication and opening of the new Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center during which a presidential visit is expected.
D-DAY AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WWII COMMEMORATIVE TOUR
DIRECTED BY COL. STEVE BOWMAN, Ph.D., USA (Ret.)
NORMANDY – BELGIUM – LUXEMBOURG JUNE 3 –12, 2007
COL. STEVE BOWMAN AND “BABE HEFFRON OF EASY COMPANY, 506TH PIR (“THE BAND OF BROTHERS”) IN THE BOIS JACQUES NEAR BASTOGNE, BELGIUM
Historic Tours is proud to be operating tours for the third season for The History Channel and History Travel. Our highly acclaimed itinerary features attendance at the official 63rd anniversary of D-Day commemorations and attendance at the dedication of the new Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center. This new center will be the first major change at the Normandy American Cemetery since it opened in 1956. Presidential participation in the dedication is expected.
The tour is directed by Col. Steve Bowman, Ph.D., USA (Ret.), who served as the final Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade and was the Director of the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, PA. Col. Bowman is still a resident of Berlin and has served on the Board of Advisors to the Allied Museum in Berlin for nine years. Steve is a graduate of The United State Military Academy at West Point and served with 506th PIR of the 101st Airborne in Vietnam where he earned the Silver Star, Legion of Merit (2 awards), Bronze Star, Purple Heart (2 awards), Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal (2 awards), Army Achievement Medal and Combat Infantry Badge.
JOIN “WILD BILL” GUARNERE AND “BABE” HEFFRON
ON HISTORIC TOURS’ 3RD
EASY COMPANY, 506TH PIR, 101ST AIRBORNE
WWII COMMEMORATIVE TOUR!
FRANCE, BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG, THE NETHERLANDS SEPTEMBER 4 - 14, 2007
Cristy with Bill and Babe at the entrance to Hitler's Eagle's Nest.
Cristy with Bill and Babe.
Cristy with Babe in the Bois Jacques
In 2004 Historic Tours had the honor of designing and operating the history-making 60th anniversary commemorative tour for Bill and Babe and their many devoted admirers and friends of the veterans of Easy Company. The tour was a great success. Following the tour we received many requests for a sequel. So in September 2006, Historic Tours operated a similar tour, which followed the entire route of Easy Company’s heroic service in WWII. This tour was also completed successfully and highly acclaimed.
In 2007 Bill and Babe have asked Historic Tours to once again design and to operate yet a third tour to commemorate Easy Company’s role in WWII. However this time our tour will be shorter with more free time, less driving and less expensive! None of us are getting any younger and Bill and Babe are of course in the 80’s. They are healthy and give 100% on our tours to our tour members. They seem to always be available and eager to discuss their wartime role and their roles in the making of “Band of Brothers”. Yet a tour of 14 days can be difficult on everyone, let alone Bill and Babe. For these reasons, our tour focuses on the major campaigns of Easy Company – Normandy, the Bulge and Operation Market Garden.
If you are traveling to Normandy independently, contact Ray at our Normandy office, by e-mail (ww2tour@aol.com) and arrange for Ray to personally guide you around the beaches and battlefields of Normandy. Ray will be available for private guiding of the D-Day beaches and the Battle of Normandy. Private tours will begin again in the Summer, 2006.
Tours For 2008
2008 will be our 26th year of operating
World War II Commemorative Tours!
ANNOUNCING THE OFFICIAL
U.S. NAVY NORMANDY MONUMENT
DEDICATION TOUR
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE NAVAL ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES
London, Portsmouth, Normandy, Paris
JUNE 1-8, 2008
SITE OF U.S. NAVY MONUMENT
ON UTAH BEACH
Model of the new Normandy U.S. Navy Monument
being coordinated by
The Naval Order of the United States and Historic Tours
1st Engineer Special Brigade Monument
U.S. VII Corps Memorial
Commemorative Ceremony
Plans call for the dedication of the U.S. Navy Normandy Monument on Utah Beach on the evening of June 5, 2008. Funding for the monument is now underway in the United States and France. The dedication ceremony is being coordinated by Ste. Marie-du-Mont and the Naval Order of the United States. All receptions and events relating to the dedication of the monument will only be open to paid tour members. Those traveling "on their own" will not have access to the numerous special events being planned.
ITINERARY
June
1. Tour members gather in London. City tour and welcome dinner.
2.
Visit to Ike's pre-invasion HQ at Southwick House and lunch at the pub where Ike and Monty met each day. Over night in Portsmouth.
3. Visit to HM Naval Base Portsmouth-primary home port of the Royal Navy-visit D-Day Museum, free time for shopping at the sensational new Gunwharf Quay. Overnight Portsmouth.
4. Cross the English Channel. Visit to the Undersea Wrecks of D-Day Museum and the important harbour of Port-en-Bessin. Overnight in Bayeux.
5. Private wreath laying ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery including Ray's well heralded presentations on the European Theatre of Operations and the Battle of Normandy. Detailed tour of the cemetery including special honors for U.S. Navy casaualties-visit to the new Normandy Visitors Center. Visit Ste. Mere Eglise. Detailed tour of Utah Beach. Evening dedication of the U./S. Navy Normandy Monument. Overnight in Bayeux.
6. Attend the official 64th Anniversary of D-Day Commemorations at the Normandy American Cemetery. Detailed tour of Omaha Beach. Free time for shopping in Bayeux. Overnight in Bayeux.
7. Visit the German Batteries at Longues and the "artificial harbor" at Arromanches. Visit Gold and Juno Beaches and Pegasus Bridge. Overnight in Bayeux.
8. Depart for Paris-farewell lunch cruise on the Seine River and Ray's special tour of beautiful Paris featuring the American history in the city. Overnight at hotel near Charles De Gaulle International Airport.
FEATURES
AMERICA’S TWO MOST EXPERIENCED WWII TOUR GUIDES - RAY AND CRISTY PFEIFER WHO BETWEEN THEM HAVE 52 YEARS OF GUIDING AMERICANS IN NORMANDY – NO OTHER TOUR COMPANY CAN CLAIM THIS. CRISTY AND RAY OPERATED THE FIRST TOURS IN HISTORY TRO COMMEMORATE THE NAVY'S ROLE IN D-DAY IN 1989 AND 1994. NO OTHER TOUR GUIDES CAN MAKE THIS CLAIM.
GUARANTEED ATTENDANCE AT THE OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF THE U.S. NAVY NORMANDY MONUMENT AND AT THE OFFICIAL 64TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY COMMEMORATIONS.
DELUXE CLASS AND FIRST CLASS HOTELS WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND PRIVATE BATH.
WONDERFUL MEALS INCLUDING A LUNCH CRUISE ON THE SEINE RIVER IN PARIS.
DELUXE PRIVATE MOTORCOACH WITH AIR CONDITIONING, RESTROOMS, VIDEO AND STEREO.
When we began operating World War II commemorative tours in 1983, most of our tour members were World War II veterans and their spouses. However today our tours are made up of Americans and Europeans of all ages. The 50th anniversary commemorations of World War II led to renewed interest in the period. The victory in the Cold War has also given the peoples of America and our allies the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made in the long struggles against Nazism and Communism. In addition the release of Saving Private Ryan further increased the interest in the period among younger people. Our tour members are of all ages.
