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Local doctor to discuss D-Day trip of honor at Clark Memorial Library in Freeport

SPEAKER — Dr. Lauren Wooten will discuss her trip of honor to Normandy, France, for the 75th anniversary of D-Day during a special presentation beginning at noon on Thursday at the Clark Memorial Branch Library in Harrison County. She is shown with her 102-year-old grandfather, a World War II Army veteran who was one of the 14 veterans Wooten accompanied. -- Contributed

CADIZ — June 6, 1944, has been etched into the minds of those old enough to remember seeing their parents glued to the radio to hear news of what came to be known as D-Day, and for those old enough to be serving in the Armed Forces, it is even more traumatic.

They hit the beaches of Normandy, France, under heavy fire, and those who do remember are very lucky to be alive today, they would agree.

But 75 years later, there are silent, suffering veterans who need healing, hope and honor from the place where the boats touched down and everyone held his weapon high and waded or returned fire as the enemy zeroed in on them.

Dr. Lauren Wooten, a family practice physician at Freeport Family Health Center, will be discussing her trip of honor to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day during a noon presentation on Thursday at the Clark Memorial Branch Library, located at 102 E Main St, Freeport.

Wooten volunteered to accompany 14 World War II veterans ranging in age from 93 to 102, the latter being her grandfather, who served in the Army during World War II and touched down on Utah Beach.

The trip was made possible through Forever Young Senior Veterans, whose mission is to “work to end the silent suffering of military veterans 65 years and older by granting their unfulfilled dreams, returning them to the places where they fought and giving them the honor, healing and hope they need and deserve. When veterans returned to the beaches of Normandy, they discovered it is now a beautiful land, the people are free, and they show their gratitude to our veterans,” an item in the library’s August/September/October newsletter notes.

For information, call the library at (740) 658-3855.

Meanwhile, Patricia Largent, Harrison County Veteran Service officer, will be available to assist veterans and their families in applying for benefits earned with their service with the military. She will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 19, Sept. 16 or Oct. 21 For information, call (740) 658-3855.

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