Dozens of Columbia-area residents, elected officials and veterans turned out for Thursday’s 80th D-Day anniversary ceremony at the Boone County Courthouse.
The U.S. Exercise Tiger Foundation organized the ceremony to observe the anniversary of the D-Day invasion of the beaches of Normandy, France. Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Boone County commissioners and Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe’s office also honored 99-year-old World War II veteran Robert Lawrence Bartlett at the ceremony. Mr. Bartlett, who lives at Lenoir Woods, tells 939 the Eagle that he’s grateful:
“Well I think this is a remarkable celebration or I should say event celebrating a major part of American history. I lost good friends in the war (World War II) and I’m one of the fortunate ones that survived,” Mr. Bartlett says.
Mayor Buffaloe tells 939 the Eagle that Mr. Bartlett is impressive:
“You know what’s interesting about (him) is both just like the contribution that he’s made to our country right, through his service, but also in our community. If you read through, he actually has two self-published books where he talks about his life and he’s working on a third right now,” Mayor Buffaloe says.
Mayor Buffaloe, Boone County commissioner Justin Aldred and other officials also presented Mr. Bartlett with a five-foot memorial wreath. While Mr. Bartlett wasn’t at D-Day, he served in the Pacific.
137 American flags were on display outside the Boone County Courthouse for the ceremony, representing all 137 Boone County and other mid-Missouri service members who died in World War II.