Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth DeGroot | Soldiers and civilians lay wreaths at the Eternal Heroes' Memorial in Ravenoville,...... read more read more
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Head of V Corps Honors D-Day Generation.
The general in charge of mission command and oversight of all rotational forces in Europe paid his respects to service members who served in those same forces during World War II.
V Corps Commanding General Maj. Gen. John S. Kolasheski visited historic Normandy, France, and participated in several events, including the Normandy American Cemetery’s annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 29, 2022.
“Today, I am again struck by the quiet symmetry and stillness of this beautiful place that honors our heroes on a continent that lived through two world wars,” said Kolasheski. “On Memorial Day, we pause and remember the sacrifices of so many in service to their nation.”
Later in the week, Kolasheski spoke in honor of the 78th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. The 24-hour-long operation claimed the lives of an estimated total of 2,000 Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, and Sailors and was the largest invasion force in history. The Battle precipitated the Allied victory on the Western front of Europe.
The Best Defense Foundation coordinated a welcome ceremony for WWII Veterans flying from Atlanta to Normandy to attend the D-Day ceremonies. Thirty-two Veterans flew into Deauville Aéroport de Deauville Saint Gatien des Bois, where Soldiers had the honor to meet and shake hands with the men and women who helped assure the freedom of the world.
“It’s impressive what you saw and what you did,” Kolasheski said to Veterans at the airport. “From all of us that have and are wearing a uniform and on behalf of a grateful nations and nations, thank you. You are an inspiration to all of us, and you are the Greatest Generation.”
Following this event, Kolasheski spoke at the Eternal Heroes' Memorial in Ravenoville, France. It was here that WWII Soldiers assigned to the 101st and 82nd, nicknamed the 'Raveno Boys,’ defended a critical crossroads for 30 hours against a repeated onslaught of German counter-attacks. The Raveno Boys’ heroism ultimately made it possible for Ravenoville to become one of the first communes freed.
Soldiers from France, the United Kingdom, and Germany also came to pay respects to the Raveno Boys, and memorial staff revealed newly added names to the walls of the Memorial. The 82nd Airborne Division performed "Requiem for a Soldier” and the 101st Airborne, 82nd Airborne and 4th Infantry detachments performed their divisional songs.
The space of the memorial, which is designed to be the size of a parachute – signifying the air attack of D-Day - was encircled by trees from the home states of the soldiers. Kolasheski commended the symbolism of this gesture.
“You are honoring the past and growing the future,” he said.
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| Date Taken: | 06.06.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2022 03:16 |
| Story ID: | 422359 |
| Location: | FR |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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