They met in 1944, Texas, USA. Young Peggy fell in love in a handsome 22-year old pilot Billy Harris on a first sight. Soon, the pair got married, but their happiness was short-lived. They only spent 6 weeks as spouses, before Billy got sent to the front. They were saying goodbyes in the port, and Billy departed to France. It was the last time they saw each other; Billy never came back.
Nobody knew what happened to the pilot. Few days after arriving at the designated placed, he simply disappeared without a trace. Peggy was devastated by this tragedy, but as his death was never confirmed, she refused to believe that her beloved husband died.
Almost 70 years among the military archives, one of Peggy’s relatives found a document about Billy. The truth that was suddenly revealed made Peggy go to France.
The archival records claimed that Billy was shot down above Normandy, not far for a small city of Les Ventes, mere days before his service began. It was the same place he was buried. But, when the woman arrived to visit her husband’s grave, an incredible surprise awaited her.
For a small town of Les Ventes, Billy Harrison was more than a hero — he was a symbol of selflessness and sacrifice. The main street was named in his honor, and every year on the Victory Day the march is held in it. Billy’s grave is filled with flowers to this day. A simple American pilot has become a hero for the citizens of this small French city and was posthumously awarded a medal for courage and bravery. This was the reason.
Billy’s plane was shot down over Les Ventes and started to fall rapidly. Knowing that he won’t survive, Billy made everything he could to get the aircraft as far as possible from the city. He knew he couldn’t avoid his death, so Billy decided to save the lives of people below. His last act was pointing a burning plain to the woods, far from houses.
After finding the cause of her husband’s tragic death, Peggy visits his grave in France yearly. She met a 91-year old Guy Surlou there, the only living witness of that plane crash. Billy did an incredible act, knowing that he was moments from death, and still did everything he could to avoid falling on the living area. His selfless act is remembered there to this day.
t is very sad that Peggy had to wait for such a long time to find out the truth about her husband. Because of the communication problems, Peggy didn’t know for 70 years, that her husband died and was buried in France. She waited for him her entire life, never remarrying. But, even the tragedy left her mark, Peggy found friends in that French town. Locals adore her, equating her husband’s bravery in her.
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Source: boredomtherapy.com
