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Unsung Hero |
Unsung Hero
SFC Raymond J. Provencher - March 21, 1925 - July 30, 2008
My father fought in WWII, having landed on Omaha Beach and fought his way through Normandy, to Belgium, where he was captured. He spent the last eight months of the war as a POW in a stalag on the Polish border.
After the war he was stationed again in Normandy, at Brittany American Cemetery, where he served as Honor Guard.
He rarely spoke of his war experiences, but little by little, through my mother and other acquaintances, we learned what a hero he was. Our most recent such revelation came at Brittany Cemetery on Memorial Day, 2004.
Unsung Hero
La Forêt de Cerisy 2002 - Dad revisits the site of some of his WWII battles.
Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Director Richard Arsenault, upon discovering that my father had been Honor Guard there after the war, requests that he stay and allow him to "pick his brain".
Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Arsenault goes over the post-war logbooks with Dad as Judy looks on.
Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Dad reading the logbook, relives old times, as I look on.
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Arsenault asks Dad to take part in the Memorial Day ceremonies.
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Mustering for the Procession - The local French veterans and dignitaries are excited to have an American WWII veteran join them.
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Dad and Patrick Davis, son of the former director of Brittany American Cemetery, lay the American wreath at the monument.
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial - Dad and Davis Paying their Respects
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Davis and Dad with other dignitaries watch the Proceedings.
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - The mayor delivers a heartfelt and moving tribute to the young Americans who gave their lives to liberate France from the Nazis.
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Procession back to the Chapel
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Procession - Dad and Davis
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Procession - Dad and Davis
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Brittany American Cemetery 2004 Memorial Day - Procession - Arriving at the Chapel
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Saint-Lo 2003 - Old Friends - Dad and Roger Casrouge - Roger was Dad's driver, and best friend, while he was stationed at Brittany Cemetery.
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