This month, Boston Police Officers from District A-7 in East Boston, Officer Andrew Biggio with the assistance of Officer Steve Ashman, organized a trip for four WWII Veterans from the Boston area to return to France! The four veterans – all over the age of 100 – served in WWII eighty years ago. The trip included the veterans visiting former battlefields, and towns they helped liberate.
On Monday June 3rd, all four veterans returned to the Normandy American Cemetery and visited the graves of other Boston residents who did not make it home.
On June 4th, Marvin Gilmore greeted French children on Utah Beach. Mr. Gilmore, a renowned Boston businessman and activist who resides in Cambridge, was one of the first black service members to land on Utah Beach 80 years ago. “Utah Beach” was one of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion.
On June 5th, Bill Soule of Seekonk, Franklin Simon of Milton, and Christy Fier of Avon, all returned to Omaha Beach where they landed during WWII.
On June 6th, all four Veterans were invited to a ceremony where they met with international leaders and were thanked for their contributions. The veterans were greeted personally by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, as well as various members of Congress. Several other officers from District A-7 helped honor these heroes by escorting them to and from Boston Logan International Airport.
