In the April 25^th edition of the Town and Country we highlighted the story of U.S. Army veteran and Marlborough Township resident Stanley Friday and his impending return to the beaches of Normandy, France on the 75^th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion.  This is the story of his return to France.

            It was 75 years ago when Stanley Friday first stepped on the sands of Utah

Stanley and Larue Friday, after their return from Norm- andy, with the many souvenirs of their visit to the events surrounding the 75th Anniversary of the D-day Invasion.

Beach on the coast of Normandy in Northern France.  His last visit there resulted in 165 straight days of combat for the then 21-year-old soldier.

            That visit also resulted in more than 30 medals and a lifetime of memories of the horrors of war.

            This time the 96-year-old Marlborough Township resident and U.S. Army veteran was there to receive the French Legion of Honour – the highest order of merit awarded by the French government.  It has been presented on behalf of the French Head of State for more than two centuries to reward the most deserving.

            Stanley was among the nearly 200 surviving veterans who attended the 75^th anniversary event marking the allied invasion that would eventually lead to the end of World War II in Europe.

            But, he was one of only five to receive the Legion of Honour.

            This latest journey for Stanley and his wife, Larue, began early in the

Stanley and Larue Friday stand with Marlborough Township Police Sergeant Ted Baird (left) and  Officer Andrew Curtis (right) just prior to leaving For the Philadelphia International Airport on June2.

afternoon of June 2 with Sergeant Ted Baird and Officer Andrew Curtis of the Marlborough Township Police Department stopping by his home.  They would provide leadership of the motorcade that would take Stanley and Larue out of the Township and on their way to the Philadelphia International Airport.

            In a limousine, courtesy of the Forever Young Senior Veterans organization, and escorted by about 40 motorcycle riders from the Warriors Watch group, they traveled to the City of Brotherly Love for their 5:51 p.m. flight to Atlanta.

            There, they met up another group of veterans making the trip to Normandy for the overnight trip to France.  Shortly after 1 p.m., they arrived at the Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris.

            The Marlborough couple stayed in a small hotel in the village of Caen, some five or so miles from the beaches of Normandy.  They found out that the dining habits were a bit different than what they're used to at home.

            Stanley remarked that they had "baloney and cheese sandwiches and apple pie" for breakfast.  Larue added the "coffee was bit too strong" for her liking.  But, they wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

            Tours and visits marked their time leading up to June 6.  Tours of the nearby villages and visits to the beaches where more than 150,000 allied troops landed and nearly 5,000 died 75 years ago.

            When asked if anything looked familiar, Stanley simply replied "It's all built up again, nothing looks the same … all rebuilt."

            Friday remembered that during the stops in the villages, visitors from Holland, Belgium, and Germany would pause to thank the veterans.  Residents echoed "You rescued our town."

            According to Stanley, the weather was "cloudy, 50 degrees, and it rained every day … then, on Thursday morning [June 6] the skies cleared up and it was a beautiful day for the ceremony."

            Early in the morning on June 6 there were interviews aplenty with all of the news media waiting for a chance to talk to the veterans.  Included in the notable news persons Friday met was respected journalist and anchor of ABC World News Tonight, David Muir.  Friday said Muir "shook my hand a couple of times" after the interview. 

            Later in the morning, Stanley and Larue were escorted to the stage.  About 175 people were on the dais with them; and about 18,000 in the audience.  Stanley took his place in the front row with the other four veterans who would receive the Legion of Honor from French President Emmanuel Macron.

            When the time came Friday - who served as a scout with the 80^th Infantry Division, 317^th Regiment, 2^nd Battalion – stood in front of the President of France

Friday displays his Legion of Honour  medal.

and the President of the United States.  President Macron looked Friday in the eye and said "On behalf of the French Republic I award you the distinction of Knight of the Legion of Honour."  Macron then leaned into Friday's ear for the French traditional la bise (cheek kisses) and whispered "Stan, I appreciate what you did for us, and so do the people."  Then, President Trump personally offered his congratulations to Friday.

            All the time, Larue was sitting behind her husband.  She said "I was just so proud."

            The Friday's arrived back home a week later in the wee hours of the morning via a limousine, once again courtesy of Forever Young Senior Veterans.  They came home with a suitcase full of souvenirs and a host of fond memories,   

            All the modest Stanley Friday had to say was "I just did my job." 

            According to Rich Walzek of Forever Young Senior Veterans, the group made the trip to Normandy possible for 41 veterans – everything from limousine rides to and from the airport, flight costs, hotel rooms, and much more – at a cost of $252,000.  You can help with those costs by donating to the group at www.gofundme.com/75thdday.

            A long time ago, U.S. General John J. Pershing said "Time will not dim the glory of their deeds."  Those words rang so true on June 6, 2019.

Stanley Friday (right) receives a salute from President Donald Trump after receiving the Legion of Honour medal from French President Emmanuel Macron.