Countdown to #DDay75
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Episode #574 of Hometown Heroes, airing May 2-5, 2019, begins our countdown to the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion by sharing memories from three men who experienced D-Day first hand. For a thorough list of events commemorating the 75th anniversary, visit dday-anniversary.com.
Click on the image to access a list of 75th anniversary events around the world.
Before hearing from three men who arrived on Normandy’s beaches on June 6, 1944, you’ll hear the entire prayer that President Franklin D. Roosevelt shared with the nation over the radio that day. In 2014, Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed into a law, a bill authorizing the text of that prayer to be added to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The bill stipulated that no federal funds be used in the project, so the Friends of the World War II Memorial organization is raising money to accomplish that addition. Click here to learn more about contributing to that cause.
An artist’s rendering of how FDR’s D-Day prayer will be added to the National World War II Memorial.
This episode also features memories from the late Phil Reed, who helped land British troops aboard LCI-35 at Sword Beach on June 6, 1944. He is being toasted this weekend in Portland, OR at the first national LCI reunion since his passing in September at the age of 98. You can access the complete original interview with Mr. Reed here.
The late Phil Reed by his model of LCI-35. Until his passing, he collected donations for the complete restoration of LCI-713.
Phil dreamed of getting the museum ship LCI-713 seaworthy again. Click here to contribute to that cause.
David McCoy survived Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 with the 1st Infantry Division’s 18th Regiment. You’ll hear his D-Day memories on this episode as well, and can link to his complete original interview here.
Finally you’ll hear from Jack Gutman, a Navy corpsman who treated some of Normandy’s wounded. Gutman wrote a book about his experiences in Europe and in the Pacific, as well as how he found healing from the post traumatic stress that plagued him for decades. You can access the complete original interview with Jack Gutman here.
