This year, though, the pandemic stepped in, barring all travel for families to visit the World War II graves in France's Normandy, where Saturday marks the 76th anniversary of the epic D-Day battle, when allied troops successfully stormed the beaches and turned the war against the Nazis.
"I was actually choked up when I got the first request," Oldrid said. "I'm always on the other side. Always in the background," he said. As June 6 approached, the boxes of wreaths and grave markers piled up in his garage. And to soothe the nerves of families, he has also been filming live for Facebook several ceremonies and wreathlayings.
Still, whatever Oldrid is asked "I know he'll say `yes' because he actually doesn't know the word `no.' It is not in his vocabulary," said Barkway-Harney."It's not ever, never will be a burden, he said "It's a pleasure and an honour."