Locust Valley seniors invade Normandy for 80th D-Day anniversary

Six Locust Valley High School seniors made a remarkable journey to Normandy, France, earlier this month to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Matthew Borruso, Sonny Consolazio, Michael DiLorenzo, Riley Haas, Spiro Lampoutis and Kelsey Neves were chosen for the trip after submitting essays and poems that reflected their appreciation for the sacrifices made by thousands of brave young men on June 6, 1944.

Chaperoned by teacher Daniel Durante and Principal Patrick DiClemente, and joined by district Superintendent Kristen Turnow, Board of Education President Margaret Marchand and Vice President Lauren Themis, the group arrived in France on June 2. Their weeklong visit included tours of historic sites, ceremonies, and interactions with World War II veterans, current service members and global leaders.

“You can sit in your classroom all day and read every textbook there is and watch every movie or documentary, but nothing compares to being on those beaches and meeting those heroes firsthand,” Consolazio said.

The students’ journey began with a visit to the Patton House, near the La Fiere Bridge, the site of a significant and bloody skirmish during the larger battle. They had the honor of chatting with President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Susan Eisenhower and Caroline Bradshaw, as well as several World War II veterans at Omaha Beach. The students described how these encounters deeply moved them, offering tangible connections to the historical events they had studied.

“There were several times throughout the trip, especially at the more historic sites, where it just really hits you,” Haas said. “This is something that happened not all that long ago. It’s not just something that we’re reading about in our history books.”

The trip also included a visit to the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where the students saw for themselves the enduring reverence of the local people for the American liberators. The town was adorned with American flags, and some residents even donned historical U.S. military uniforms.

“It’s something I’ve never even seen in my own country,” DiLorenzo said. “It was unbelievable to see them be so patriotic for my country.”

On June 3, the group attended the unveiling of a statue of General Eisenhower and a rededication of a statue of Mayor René Renaud. They also explored another town, Carentan, and celebrated Lampoutis’ birthday with a dinner at Utah Beach.

The following day, the students visited Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, where they paid their respects to the fallen soldiers. They toured a museum that they said gave them a deeper understanding of D-Day.

“Seeing the graves and learning the stories of the soldiers made it all so real,” Lampoutis said. “It gave, like, real names and real faces to this event.”

On June 5, the group experienced the beauty of Mont Saint-Michel, a historic commune famous for its abbey and the fact that it turns into an island at high tide. The students marveled at the stunning architecture and the breathtaking views.

June 6, the anniversary of D-Day, was marked by a plaque unveiling at La Fiere Bridge and a visit to the Iron Mike statue, which honors the American paratroopers who gave their lives in the intense battle to capture the village of Cauquigny.

“It was the Iron Mike statue where a lot of the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne landed. It was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II,” Lampoutis said. “We learned that the river that runs under La Fiere Bridge was blood-red for years after the war.”

The students also attended a movie premiere by Keith Nightingale and General Donahue, which offered an in-depth look at the heroics and missions that occurred at Normandy during the D-Day invasion.

Throughout the week, the students took part in ceremonies, meeting veterans and military officials, including NATO’s supreme allied commander, Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli. They also had the chance to meet French students, which they said fostered a sense of shared history and international friendship.

The trip concluded with the Remembrance Bowl on June 8, a flag football game between the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The students helped with jersey signings and field organization, and enjoyed the camaraderie and patriotic spirit of the event.

“There were moments of pure fun for us, but I think being at the ceremonies and seeing the veterans for who it might be their last anniversary made it very real,” Neves said. “It felt like such a privilege to be around them and hear their stories.”