D-Day Vets Mark 74th Anniversary
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Episode #527 of Hometown Heroes, airing June 7-10, 2018, features two D-Day veterans who continue to do everything they can to honor those courageous Americans who perished on June 6, 1944 and throughout World War II.
Click the image to learn more about The Force of Destiny, a new book about Col. Arnald Gabriel, written by his son, Michael.
You’ll hear D-Day memories from Arnald Gabriel, a prolific conductor who continues to keep a busy musical schedule in an effort to honor the fallen and keep history alive. For the complete original interview with Colonel Gabriel, access episode #370 of Hometown Heroes from 2015.
Col. Gabriel conducting the D-Day Memorial Wind Band at the National World War II Memorial.
Click the image for the story and video from Tom’s 2018 D-Day jump from the San Diego Union-Tribune
We’ll also hear from paratrooper Tom Rice, who at age 96, was back in Normandy for the 74th anniversary of the D-Day landings, once again performing a tribute jump. When Tom first appeared on Hometown Heroes in 2015, it took two episodes to tell his story, and you can pull those up with this link to episodes #352 and #353. For the latest chapter in his incredible story, read the San Diego Union-Tribune’s coverage of Tom’s most recent trip to Normandy, including video of his jump.
The podcast version of this episode, linked above, also features President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s entire address to the nation on June 6, 1944, most of which was a prayer for the safety and success of Operation Overlord. An effort is underway to have a display of the text of that prayer added to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. You can learn more about that effort on the Friends of the National World War II Memorial website.
An artist’s rendering of the proposed FDR D-Day Prayer display at the National World War II Memorial. Click the image for information on that campaign
