First, thanks for your interest and comments. In maybe a related story, one I sometimes post on D-Day, is another story that is one that still shakes me to my soul everytime I think of it.
For the 53rd anniversary of D-Day my wife and spent about a week in Normandy. One June 5 we visited Omaha Beach when they were putting up the decorations and setting up chairs for the ceremonies the next day.
I wanted to be sure I did not miss a thing so before dawn we were back at Omaha on June 6. This was before all the renovations and added buildings. No one was there. I did not see any staff, no one. It was foggy, almost misty. And horror movie scary. Looking out over the white crosses, I could only see a few feet. If you have seen Private Ryan, then that is the opening and closing scene. I told my wife I was going to walk among the crosses. She stayed back by the big monument. When I got back it was mid-morning, the sun had lifted the fog, and a beautiful day had begun. I spotted my wife talking to a little man in a WW II uniform. When she saw me she came over and told me he was James Amino, from Mars, Pa. She said his brother was killed in the invasion and was buried there. He came every year and stayed with locals who had brought him out there but they had to go to work and he had no transportation. Long story short, we became his escort for the day.
There were all kinds of interesting stories from that day where the people of Normandy thanked him, and every time they referred to Americans as our liberators. I have heard that same term used on many trips there. But one instance is carved in my men more, and my heart forever.
As it turned out Mr. Amino was an official dignitary, so we got to be involved in all the ceremonies and met all the local dignitaries,many famous. After the ceremony the sun was blazing down and it was hot. Many of the dignitaries followed Mr. Amino to his brother's grave site and we stayed there talking for quite a while in the hot sun. When they left Mr. Amino said he did not have any photos of the grave so we took several for him. He was in several of them. When we went to the grave a young man of about 35 followed behind and during all this he stood back and observed, for over an hour in the hot sun. He said nothing, just stood there. When it was obvious that we were getting to leave, he walked up and extended his hand to Mr. Amino and said, Thank you and to your brother. For what you did and the sacrifices you made, me and my family have lived in liberty all our lives. He then walked off.
I stayed in touch with Mr. Amino for a while but did not get any responses for some time so I wrote a letter addressed to the Family of James Amino. I wanted to get the photos to him. I received a letter back from his brother saying that James had stepped off a bus and was struck and killed by a car. I was devastated. Here was man who fought in and survived the Battle of the Bulge and to have a runaway car kill him was just not right. Sad ending to a good life.
Sorry for such a long post. I tear up every time I think of that day. RIP James Amino of the Greatest Generation
For the 53rd anniversary of D-Day my wife and spent about a week in Normandy. One June 5 we visited Omaha Beach when they were putting up the decorations and setting up chairs for the ceremonies the next day.
I wanted to be sure I did not miss a thing so before dawn we were back at Omaha on June 6. This was before all the renovations and added buildings. No one was there. I did not see any staff, no one. It was foggy, almost misty. And horror movie scary. Looking out over the white crosses, I could only see a few feet. If you have seen Private Ryan, then that is the opening and closing scene. I told my wife I was going to walk among the crosses. She stayed back by the big monument. When I got back it was mid-morning, the sun had lifted the fog, and a beautiful day had begun. I spotted my wife talking to a little man in a WW II uniform. When she saw me she came over and told me he was James Amino, from Mars, Pa. She said his brother was killed in the invasion and was buried there. He came every year and stayed with locals who had brought him out there but they had to go to work and he had no transportation. Long story short, we became his escort for the day.
There were all kinds of interesting stories from that day where the people of Normandy thanked him, and every time they referred to Americans as our liberators. I have heard that same term used on many trips there. But one instance is carved in my men more, and my heart forever.
As it turned out Mr. Amino was an official dignitary, so we got to be involved in all the ceremonies and met all the local dignitaries,many famous. After the ceremony the sun was blazing down and it was hot. Many of the dignitaries followed Mr. Amino to his brother's grave site and we stayed there talking for quite a while in the hot sun. When they left Mr. Amino said he did not have any photos of the grave so we took several for him. He was in several of them. When we went to the grave a young man of about 35 followed behind and during all this he stood back and observed, for over an hour in the hot sun. He said nothing, just stood there. When it was obvious that we were getting to leave, he walked up and extended his hand to Mr. Amino and said, Thank you and to your brother. For what you did and the sacrifices you made, me and my family have lived in liberty all our lives. He then walked off.
I stayed in touch with Mr. Amino for a while but did not get any responses for some time so I wrote a letter addressed to the Family of James Amino. I wanted to get the photos to him. I received a letter back from his brother saying that James had stepped off a bus and was struck and killed by a car. I was devastated. Here was man who fought in and survived the Battle of the Bulge and to have a runaway car kill him was just not right. Sad ending to a good life.
Sorry for such a long post. I tear up every time I think of that day. RIP James Amino of the Greatest Generation
