Emotive ceremonies in Carentan
25 veterans attended the official ceremony at Carré-de-Choux, Carentan, on Friday 1 June 2018
Photo: Ouest-France
2 June 2018: Emotion-filled ceremonies in Carentan
Author: Emilie Michel
Source: Ouest-France
The commemorations of the 74th anniversary of D-Day began on Friday 1 June 2018 in Carentan, in the presence of twenty-five veterans.
« We are here to remember the too many civilian and military victims on both sides. We are here to celebrate the peace that has been rediscovered », reminded Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneur at the ceremony organised at the Carré-de-Choux to mark the 74th anniversary of the D-Day landings. […]
The State representative addressed a message by way of a wink to Jack Hamlin, a veteran whose speech drew laughter from the assembly. « You dazzled us 74 years ago with your bravery. You still dazzle us today with your intelligence, your wit and your humour. If you love us, we love you too!
Five veterans (Georges Smilanich, Robert Devinney, William Kellerman, Franck Parkinston and Wesley Athey) received the Legion of Honour during the ceremony.
The participants then headed towards the town centre in a procession for the rest of the commemorations.
2018 news of the Normandy landing beaches
My brother Alan who was a Sherman tank driver with « A » Sqn 23rd Hussars, 11th Armd Div. from June 1944 until end of Dec 1945. Unfortunately he is now no longer wih us, so it is with great regret that I did not extract more recollections from him whilst he was still alive, especially when I found that during my first fighter tour in Germany I was only 20 miles from where his tank was knocked out and 2 of his crew killed in October 1944. Why do we wait until they have all passed away before we get more of their story?