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Group of Last Living Vets from D-Day to Gather in Normandy for Vision Forum's 'Final Farewell'

Contact: Wesley Strackbein, 210-340-5250 ext 222, press@visionforum.org

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 6, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- This June 4-6, Vision Forum Ministries will conclude their ten-year Faith of Our Fathers Project with a Final Farewell from the beaches of Normandy as part of the 2011 D-Day anniversary celebration. Over the course of three days, World War II veterans will be honored on location in Normandy, France through several unique events, including an Evangelical Worship Service and a Grand Celebration, along with guided tours to strategic locations that were part of the Normandy invasion in 1944. A number of Normandy veterans will be joining the group and sharing their recollections of the historic landing that led to the Allies' victory over the Nazis.

"The veterans of the Second World War are fast passing away," remarked Doug Phillips, founder of the Faith of Our Fathers Project. "Soon they will be gone. Now is the time to honor World War II's last living heroes. This is our goal this June through Normandy: A Final Farewell as we endeavor to show the providence of God in the greatest recorded amphibious invasion in history.

"If you were alive in 1830 and had one last opportunity to meet, honor, and thank the men who stood with Washington at Valley Forge, would it be a priority?" continued Phillips. "The Valley Forge of our generation was Normandy. And this may be the last year in all of history to thank veterans returning to the bloody beaches of their youth and chronicle their stories."

The Faith of Our Fathers Project began a decade ago on the sixtieth anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and has included such efforts as "The League of Grateful Sons" documentary which has been broadcast to millions around the world. "League" highlighted the journey of more than 80 veterans who fought on Iwo Jima as they journeyed back to Iwo's black sand beaches for the sixtieth anniversary of this fierce fight with the Japanese.

"Our ten-year effort to honor World War II's veterans will fittingly conclude on Normandy's beaches where the Allies landed en masse and turned the tide against Nazi oppression," Phillips noted. "While there have been many efforts to commemorate the Normandy invasion over the years through books, films, and on-location tributes, our event will be distinguished by a distinctly Christian witness as we endeavor to share a Gospel message of hope to the veterans and their families and link the generations of the present with the men of the past as we honor the faith of our fathers."

Normandy: A Final Farewell will include special events which feature Gospel presentations, vintage WWII-era music, distinguished speakers and dignitaries, period impersonators, children dressed in vintage clothing, and the giving of special awards of honor. A unique tribute video will also be produced that chronicles the event for future generations. In addition, Vision Forum Ministries will be making 'D-Day and the Providence of God Virtual Tour' available on the web so that thousands can watch and enjoy key videos from the event over the Internet.

"Normandy: A Final Farewell is a large undertaking, and we welcome the support of those who believe in this project," commented Phillips. "To learn how you can play an important role in making this event possible, visit our Normandy: A Final Farewell project page on Kickstarter. There you will learn more about our specific needs for the project as well as the featured rewards we are offering to our pledge partners."

To learn more about Normandy: A Final, visit the official website: www.afinalfarewell.org.  

To interview Doug Phillips regarding this project, contact Wesley Strackbein by e-mail at press@visionforum.org or by phone at (210) 340-5250, ext. 222.