racedo
5th Jun 2012, 17:44
Lt. Billie D. Harris Tribute (http://www.354thpmfg.com/BillieDHarris_part1.html)
Spent the weekend in Normandy, hadn't been the original plan but as all plans do it got amended and there was I standing above Omaha beach yesterday 4th of June at the US Military Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer.
I had visited before but this occasion we were just in time to joining the last English speaking tour of the day.
Guide had clearly a passion for her work and made sure any Americans in the group knew how much she treasured their sacrifice to free her country.
As we walked along I noticed a CBS News crew that were paying lots of attention to one headstone, it was the one of Billie D Harris.
Guide brought us to a small bench close by and told us the story as detailed in the link above, it rained heavily as made my eyes all misty. CBS crew stood close by and listened again to the story awe struck by it.
Why this was different is this June 5th and 6th, 2012 the widow of Billie D Harris will be at the site and will sit on this seat. CBS evening news will do a feature across both days about her late husband. She didn't know until 60 plus years after his death what had happened to him and clearly now the guides treasure her.
Peggy never remarried and is in her late 80's and likely one of the few widows still alive from the men who sacrificed their lives in Summer 1944 in Normandy.
Not sure I will catch CBS evening news on 1st run but will do so by end of week.
Spent the weekend in Normandy, hadn't been the original plan but as all plans do it got amended and there was I standing above Omaha beach yesterday 4th of June at the US Military Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer.
I had visited before but this occasion we were just in time to joining the last English speaking tour of the day.
Guide had clearly a passion for her work and made sure any Americans in the group knew how much she treasured their sacrifice to free her country.
As we walked along I noticed a CBS News crew that were paying lots of attention to one headstone, it was the one of Billie D Harris.
Guide brought us to a small bench close by and told us the story as detailed in the link above, it rained heavily as made my eyes all misty. CBS crew stood close by and listened again to the story awe struck by it.
Why this was different is this June 5th and 6th, 2012 the widow of Billie D Harris will be at the site and will sit on this seat. CBS evening news will do a feature across both days about her late husband. She didn't know until 60 plus years after his death what had happened to him and clearly now the guides treasure her.
Peggy never remarried and is in her late 80's and likely one of the few widows still alive from the men who sacrificed their lives in Summer 1944 in Normandy.
Not sure I will catch CBS evening news on 1st run but will do so by end of week.