On Mrs. Glennie Sims, founder of the organization Normandy Remembers, a fundraising was set going during our Congress which took place in Graignes-Mesnil-Angot on April, 2 so as to enable an American veteran to come back in Normandy and being apart of the ceremonies commemorating the 73th anniversary of D-Day.
These donations helped the veteran, M. James Hamby, come back June 4-11.
James Hamby was 19 when he landed on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944. He was assigned to 29th Field Artillery Battalion, attached to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. He took part in all European campaigns, from Normandy to Germany, via the Battle of the Bulge. He is now 92, he already came back for the first time in Normandy for the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
During his stay in Normandy, Mr. Hamby and his caregiver Mr. Jonathan Berry attended some ceremonies, such as the one in Saint Laurent sur Mer on June 5 when a memorial honoring the Natives was dedicated, the one in Graignes-Mesnil-Angot on the same day and the official ceremony in Utah Beach on June 6. They met some students in Torigni-sur-Vire on June 7 as well as in Saint James on June 9, the latter was followed by paying homage to his fellow soldiers at Brittany American Cemetery.
On June 8, members of Les Fleurs de la Mémoire had the opportunity to exchange with him during a meeting in Saint-Lô. In addition to this schedule, Mr. Hamby and Mr. Berry have had the opportunity to visit some museums and head to Normandy American Cemetery.
