A lifetime journey uniquely crafted

I worked on a charity event a couple of years ago with Becky Craft, so when travel came into our family plans, there was no doubt who I would call to create our unique travel experience. She is friendly, personable and truly cares about people - especially her clients and their experiences.

My husband Don had a life-long dream to travel to Normandy as his father was killed in WWII and is buried in the cemetery there. Don is an only child and was just four years old when his father died. This trip would be an important way to connect with the father he never knew. Don and I and our 16-year-old son Barry had not traveled abroad and we had many anxieties - from how many bags to pack, to what mode of travel and what sights to see, but we are determined to make this important journey.

This was indeed a trip of a lifetime. Becky arranged for us to meet our Normandy guide in Bayeux, France. He spent the next four days sharing his passion for history and linking us to what the experience would have been like for Don's father - Capt. John B. Holton, 4th Infantry Division, 12th Regiment. Capt. Holton was killed by a tree bust in a battle near the village of Emondville, France on June 9th, 1944 after landing on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6th.

Becky had arranged a special welcome for us with the American Battle Monuments Commission Cemetery (located above Omaha Beach) and we were greeted by their senior official. He escorted us to Don's father grave, decorated with a purple and gold floral bouquet (which Becky ordered unbeknownst to Don). We were awed by the rows and rows of white marble crosses, standing in a symmetrical pattern in every direction. It was a very emotional time to think that here we were, sixty-four years later, finally able to have our family ceremony with prayers and scripture readings. Don was then honored and surprised when he was asked to assist in the evening flag ceremony at the cemetery and was awarded honorary citizenship of the Utah Beach community - again thanks to Becky and her contacts in Normandy.

If this wasn't enough, Becky and her team had researched and made arrangements for us to retrace the footsteps where Capt. Holton marched his company "A" across the marshy pastures and hedgerows inland from Utah Beach. We were then taken to the home of an elderly couple (ages 89 and 87) who were life-long residents of Emondville and had experienced four years of German occupation in their French village. They were eyewitnesses when the Americans and Capt. Holton's Company "A" invaded and liberated the village. They sobbed with gratitude as they relayed the story of the Americans giving them their freedom. We truly learned a lesson that day as we sat with them in their quaint French home listening to them speak French with a powerful emotion and our guide translating with equal enthusiasm - freedom only becomes valued when it is taken from us! It was at this moment that we truly grasped the purpose for which Don's father had died.

In addition to Normandy, our trip included Switzerlands, Paris, Versailles, and London, all to be done in 16 days! Well, Becky did it, and perfectly I might add. She made sure we were coddled all along the way, from hassle-free airline travel, to boutique hotels, private drivers and guides, and pre-arranged dinner reservations at exclusive restaurants. We often joked among ourselves that we didn't know what Becky had told everyone about us as they treated us like royalty at each location!

The trip may now be over, but we continue to celebrate the blessings of our one in a lifetime journey uniquely crafted by Becky and Travel Crafter.

by Becky Craft, CTC on 05/08/2020 in