Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools students will take two North Carolina veterans back to Normandy, France in June for the World War II 75th anniversary commemoration ceremonies, as a part of the NC to Normandy program.
Six sophomores from Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill High Schools will work with two Smith Middle School teachers—French teacher Robin McMahon and social studies teacher Tony Carter—on the project. The students and teachers will serve as the Envoys of Honor for accompanying and translating for the veterans.
The trip is personal for some students whose family members served in the war, including East Chapel Hill sophomore Daniel Price and Chapel Hill sophomore Matthew Griesedieck.
“The big reason why I wanted to go on this trip is to honor my two great-uncles. Both of them fought in the war, and I never heard their stories or had the opportunity to meet them,” Price said.
Griesedieck’s grandfather served in the United States Air Force and became a prisoner of war during World War II.
“Through [NC to Normandy], I can honor [my grandfather’s] memory and all of those who have served our country,” Griesedieck said.
George Chall, a former combat medic, and his wife will accompany the school representatives to Normandy. Chall treated German prisoners of war and American soldiers in General George Patton’s Third Army, and he has shared some of his war stories with students. The second veteran to join the trip was Jacques Michienzi, a former member of the 17th Airborne Division who parachuted into Germany during World War II. Michienzi also served in Korea and Vietnam.
“The service learning of the students with the WWII veterans, the interaction and gratitude of the French people with our veterans and the living history experienced through bringing a WWII veteran back to the lands they liberated and seeing it through their eyes is the type of teaching I would love to give all my students,” Carter said. “These are memories that will never be forgotten.”
Students raised money for the trip on November 11 when World War II expert John Hayes spoke about the impact of the D-Day invasion at Smith Middle School.
The group held a second fundraising event February 2 at the North Carolina Botanical Garden Indoor Center. Chapel Hill history teacher William Melega gave a guest lecture at the event, which also featured a silent auction.
“I tried to stress and highlight the resilience of the American soldier. The brutal conditions of the [Battle of the] Bulge, where it was 30 degrees below zero, really epitomised the ‘average joe’ American soldier,” Melega said.
Community members who donate to the program have the option of requesting a certificate with images of and information about veteran loved ones. East Chapel Hill sophomore Miles Charles, who creates the certificates, can be reached at mlcharles@students.chccs.k12.nc.us. Examples of the certificates can be found on the NC to Normandy website.
“We want to make sure these heroes are recognized before history fades and we forget about the sacrifices [the veterans] made for us,” Charles said.
Students hope to raise $25,000 for the trip. Donations can be sent via check to The Public School Foundation, 750 Merritt Mill Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 with the phrase “NC to Normandy” on the memo line.
