By Rich Lamance
NORMANDY , France – Senior leaders often call the son of a Bartlesville couple, and those who serve with him, a part of the next “greatest generation.” Army Sgt. William A. Aubrey, son of Charles and Darlene Aubrey, Melrose Drive, Bartlesville, recently traveled to now silenced battlefields with names like Omaha and Utah Beaches to observe the 65th Commemoration of D-Day. They were there to honor those who were a part of that “greatest generation” who served in one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles in world history.
Aubrey, a military policeman, and more than 1,000 service members from posts and bases throughout Europe and the U.S., converged on the historic Normandy area to honor those who served, and in many cases made the ultimate sacrifice, on June 6, 1944. Week-long ceremonies took place throughout the region in such historic places as St. Mere Iglise, Omaha and Utah Beaches and 
small villages in the area that were vital to the success of the allies push into Europe against Nazi Germany.
President Obama met with leaders from Great Britain, France and Canada at a special ceremony at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Celebrations at small towns throughout Normandy were capped by a parachute demonstration from airborne paratroopers representing many of the units involved with the D-Day operations.
“My role during the D-Day ceremonies was to provide transportation for the attending veterans and escort them to the ceremony,” said Aubrey, a 2003 graduate of Bartlesville High School. “To be able to talk to those who actually fought and are part of history was very special.”
For Aubrey, it was hard to imagine that the tranquil farming villages and pristine beaches were once the scene of carnage and destruction that took the lives of more than 4,000 Americans in just one day.
“When you compare the pictures of the beaches of Normandy from back then to now, it’s amazing to see how beautiful the beaches are compared to the brutality that took place on June 6, 1944,” said Aubrey.
“I think that the most humbling spot in the area, especially at Omaha Beach, is the American cemetery. There are thousands of service members buried here. When you think about the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, you have to think of the brave souls who died here to help make it happen. Every American needs to visit this site.
“For those of us Americans lucky enough to be involved in these ceremonies, the look into 
history has been incredible. There are several bunkers intact where the Germans had their big artillery guns aimed at the beaches below. Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers climbed sheer cliffs, still has impact craters from the bombs and Naval gunfire. I ran the beaches on my first morning here and tried to imagine the sounds of the rapid machine gun fire and the exploding artillery rounds and the men yelling commands.”
Today, the 360 miles of coastline that makes up Normandy is mostly lush farmland, bustling market towns and historic landmarks that commemorate important battles that took place more than six decades ago. The residents of the area have never forgotten the sacrifices of the Americans who fought here and embrace today’s soldiers just as heartily as those who liberated them.
“ Normandy has some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen, and there are a lot of quaint 
small towns throughout the area. The French people in this area love Americans and we’ve been welcomed wherever we go.”
Aubrey is normally stationed in Bamberg, Germany, where he works as a military policeman with the 630th Military Police Company. He has been in the Army for five years and has deployed to Iraq twice.
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