Testimonials

Wes Hansen September 2011

Greetings Gary!

I wanted to write to you with a brief greeting and thank you for the recent tour you directed with my parents in September.  My parents, Karla & Mike Hansen, were visiting Europe for a time of 5 weeks.  They spent extensive time in Germany, and only a portion of it in France.  My father has a particular interest in WWII history, which is why we initially were drawn to your tour program.  After having the opportunity to speak with my parents upon their return to the US, you will be pleased (but probably not surprised) to learn that your tour (and their short time in Normandy/Bayeux) was the highlight of their lengthy journey. Both of them had voiced their appreciation of such an intimate and attentive tour with you, and they were especially impressed with your extensive knowledge and contacts. They returned home with such a greater appreciation for the events, history, and culture involved with the region and WWII time period.

My parent's recent European trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them, and I could not be happier with the joy and impression your tour left with them. I am sincerely grateful of your time and attention in helping my family live such an unforgettable experience. Hopefully Pegasus Tours will continue to bring similar experiences to future travelers for many more years to come.  Thank you, once again, and I sincerely wish you the best.

Warm regards from California,

Wes

California, USA

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Ken, Sylvia and Liam Roberts July 2011 - (Veteran - British Airborne 9 Squadron, RE)

Dear Gary

Only just surfacing after our very busy Tuesday/Weds./Thurs. visiting Normandy. We want to thank you so very much for the wonderful tour you gave us which quite exceeded expectations. In fact when Liam's mum asked him, "Was it as good as you hoped?" he responded , "Much better!".....and I think he spoke for all of us. Your graphic talk on Omaha beach was so memorable, standing like that drawing in the sand on the very spot where so much of the action took place could not be replicated and the "picture books" you had for each place we stopped were so accurate and vivid they transported us right back to 1944 in our imaginations. It was great for Ken and me to visit some places we had been to before but also to have the chance to expand our experience by visiting places we had not got to before. You were so generous with your time that I hope you weren't too shattered for your evening meal and for welcoming your new visitors.

 

I think Liam will have experiences to think about for a long time to come and maybe when he's older will want to return under his own steam. He (and we ) were lucky to be in the hands of someone like you with such deep and wide knowledge of the area and the subject - and such enthusiasm for it too!

 

We were so fortunate to have flat calm crossings both ways on the ferries. We slept like logs and dogs on the way back to Portsmouth and when we delivered Liam back home to Cowplain he rushed upstairs to change into his school uniform. He couldn't wait to get to school to tell them of his adventures and show them all his books, postcards and pictures. Friday was his last day in Primary School - he goes to secondary school in Horndean in September - so I feel sure he will never forget his memorable last week in Primary School punctuated by his visit to Normandy. Thank you, Gary, for making it such a fascinating time for us all. We would love to know when your book is published so that perhaps we might be able to buy a copy.

 

Very best wishes

Sylvia Roberts

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Nigel Fortune July 2011

Hi Gary,

It’s Nigel Fortune here who you gave a tour of Normandy to last week. Just a note to say thank you very much for giving such a great tour, me and the family all thoroughly enjoyed it and found it very informative.

Best wishes,

Nigel.

Gloucestershire, UK

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Louie & Keith Gordon June 2011 - (Father served with Royal Ulster Rifles (Airborne) Normandy 1944)

Hi Gary,

 

We just wanted to thank you once again for an amazing day - it was the highlight of our trip to France - I am just overwhelmed by all that we saw and did that day .

 

What an awe inspiring experience to be where so many fought and lost their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today - I will never forget it - the pictures can't convey the feeling to be there - I am encouraging all I know to make that trip.

 

It was very emotional for my Uncle when we shared the photos and our experiences - he had some of the same shots with him and my Aunt in them.   I am now trying to research where he was - he wasn't at the Battery - we now know he was in the 1st Battalion possibly D company -  with a Major Drummond - does this make any sense to you?

  

I would also like to get some of the photos you showed us that were taken on D-Day - can you let me know how I can obtain them?

Once again we can never thank you enough for taking us around - it would never have been the same without you there

Your knowledge and passion brought that whole day to life for us - and brought understanding of a day that changed history.-

 

Thank you so much Gary,,

 

Louie and Keith Gordon

Ontario, Canada

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Angela & Clint Lawrence June 2011

Hi Gary,

 

Thanks again for your terrific tour on June 17th.  We really enjoyed it.

Please do let us know when your book is out, and also if you would like me to leave a review somewhere for you!  We will be sure to let our friends know to come and see you! If you are ever in Edmonton, give us a shout.  You are always welcome here. 

 

Best,

Angela and Clint

Alberta, Canada

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Hugh & Suzy Jones June 2011

Gary,

Just a short note to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed your tour of

Normandy. Your knowledge of the area and the events of the invasion were vast

and your tour exceeded our expectations.  

We will not hesitate to recommend you to our friends.

Hugh & Suzy Jones

North Carolina, USA

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Mindy Cohen May 2011

Dear Gary,

Thanks again for the great tour of the WWII battlefields, towns and the U.S. cemetery yesterday.  The four of us had a wonderful day, we learned a lot, and we had a lot of fun.

I hope we have the occasion to recommend you to other people in the future.

Have a great season!

Mindy Cohen

Fairfax, Virginia, USA

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Letizia & Ric, November 2010

Dear Gary

We wish to thank you for the intense, informative tour we took with you through the cemeteries and beaches of Normandy.  It was all a very moving experience, and we greatly appreciate having one so knowledgeable to show us around. 

I hope all is well with you and with the family that hosted us in France.

Letizia and Ric

Quebec, Canada.

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Karen & Mickey Ratti, October 2010.

We arrived home (AZ) last night...

I just wanted to Thank You for the wonderful tour of the Normandy

region you took us on!  I'm just sorry that my son couldn't have been

there (he's a real history buff, especially with WWII).

I would highly recommend Pegasus Tours to anyone interested in taking

a tour.

Thanks again!

Karen & Mickey Ratti

Arizona, U.S.A.

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Sandy & Robin Cobia, September 2010.

What a wonderful time we had with you in Normandy!!!  Thank you for teaching us so much!

We got home last night and are still talking about our wonderful trip!!  One day, if you ever come to our part of the world, you will call us and we can in some way reciprocate!!!

Take care of yourself and have a wonderful time with your family in Egypt!!!  We'll be thinking about all of you!

Fondly,

Sandy and Robbin and Gayle and Sonny

N.C, USA

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Jim Groschan, June 2010.

Gary,

Thank you for giving us a great 2 days.  Your insights and details were very

helpful in broadening our understanding of the battle and the people

involved.  Your preparation  with the maps and pictures gave us such a full

perspective.  I really appreciated you "going the extra mile for us" the

second day.  It all worked out even better than I expected.

I have given your name to friends who are traveling to

Normandy in September.  I hope they contact you and utilize your excellent

service.

Best,

Jim Groschan

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John Bell, May 2010

Hi Gary

just wanted to put down in writing what an excellent day we had with you on Sunday.

My father and his friends didn't stop talking about it all the way home.

 

You are an excellent, knowledgeable and friendly guide and I wish to say thanks for making our trip to Normandy really special.

 

John.

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Guy Jackson, May 2010

Hi Gary

 

Just a short note of thanks for your tour last Friday - you brought the operation alive and helped us to understand the objectives, achievements and just as importantly the failures of the invasion.  Very enjoyable.

Best wishes,

Guy Jackson

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Colin McDermott (Grandson of Stanley McDermott RN (LCT929) who landed at H-Hour on Gold Beach)

Glasgow, January 2010

Hi Gary,

I just wanted to thank you for all the time and effort you have put in to making my Grand Fathers experience of his trip to Normandy. He thoroughly enjoyed his time with you. He was able to see so many things in such a short space of time but never felt rushed. I think the highlight of his weekend was the trip to Arromanches where he received his medal and got to sign the Hero's Book.

The experience did not just end when you dropped them off at the hotel either. The fact finding you have done since his return trying to piece all the parts of his landing together has been very much appreciated and I am sure brought back a lot of memories for him. I will certainly be recommending your services should the opportunity arise.

Thanks again for all your help

Regards

Colin McDermott

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Karen Siegemund, Feb 2010

Dear Gary-

Even though many months have gone by, I wanted to make sure that I thank you for the really extraordinary tour that you gave us in August last year.  My two teen-aged daughters were not thrilled with my plan for the day:  the idea of touring the Normandy Beaches, rather than doing what they normally do at the beach – mindlessly soaking up the sun – did not excite them.  But from the beginning of the tour to the end, you held their attention, brought these historic locations to life, and even inspired their curiosity and interest to where they have subsequently written school papers and given presentations on what they had learned that day in Normandy.  A day was not sufficient, obviously, but you set a perfect tempo for us, interspersed anecdotes with historical and statistical information, and enabled us to see the staggering heroism amid chaos, the courage, the ingenuity, the destruction.  Your knowledge was encyclopedic, and the photo albums which you brought along helped us envision how it had been at that time.  Beginning at the German Cemetery was a great way to remind us that it was the youth of these countries – all the countries - who paid the terrible price.  Visiting Omaha and Utah beaches, Ste. Mère Eglise, Pointe du Hoc and a number of other less-well-know sites gave us a sense of the enormity of the challenges faced and overcome by the Allies, and of the terrible hardships and risks taken by the local residents.  Ending at the American Cemetery as the American flag was being lowered, with Taps being played, was a fitting end to a step back into that remarkable period of history.  Touring on our own was of course possible, but I am sure that our tour with you was the very best way for us to have eked all we could from our limited time in Normandy.  It is impossible to see how the day could have been any better.  Thank you for a wonderful tour.

Best-

Karen Siegemund

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Kathleen O’Hara, October 2009

Hi Gary,

I took one of your tours this summer and I still consider it one of the best tours I have ever taken. I have passed your card along to my travel agent as well as a few friends who are interested in Normandy. Thanks again,

Kathleen O'Hara

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Terry Gibbons. August 2009

Hi Gary,

A sincere thanks from all 6 of us for a great Normandy tour last Sunday (8/23).  None of our questions went unanswered and your geographical knowledge of the area made it possible for us to pack in all of the sights we wanted to see and then some more.  The visit to Ste. Marie du Mont was a particular highlight.  Normandy is an extraordinary part of history and we were very glad to have you as our guide to share your extensive knowledge with us.  You definitely made that day the highlight of our cruise.  Thanks again from all of us.

    Best,

        Terry Gibbons

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Jackie Tejeda. May 2009

Hi Gary:

I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful day at Normandy.  My sister and I really enjoyed the day and were really glad it worked out the way it did.  Your knowledge was amazing and thank you for your time.  We would definitely recommend the tour.

Thank ya’ll

Jackie Tejeda. San Antonio, TX.

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John Correia. May 2009

Gary, thank you for such a wonderful tour of Normandy.   Your expert knowledge

made the events of June 6th 1944 (and thereafter) come alive for all four of us.

We could not have selected a better person to help us understand what really happened

on D Day.

We will definitely tell our friends about your service if they ever get to Normandy.

Also, a special thanks to your son for doing all the driving.

Regards,

John Correia. TX

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Rafi Rubin & Simon Ross. April 2009

Good Day!

Many thanks from Simon and me for a great tour.

Please also thank Steve for a great job driving…and endless patience.

We enjoyed our time in Normandy.

Your enthusiasm and knowledge made the trip complete.

Best Regards

Rafi Rubin & Simon Ross. Seattle, WA.

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M. Pintagro. March 2009

Gary, made it back in one piece late Wednesday. My trip was as memorable as it was eventful, and your outstanding efforts added significantly to it. Your observations and insights have already been a topic of lively discussion among my colleagues at the Army Public Affairs Center. Thanks again for all & best of wishes! Mike 

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