On Tuesday, July 23 at Wright Museum’s A Symposium on D-Day, best selling authors Patrick K. O’Donnell and Alex Kershaw will now be joined by WWII veteran Marvin Gilmore, aged 95.
The first African-American in New England awarded the Legion of Honor by France’s consul general, Gilmore served on an anti-aircraft unit that provided cover for American soldiers landing on Utah and Omaha beaches on D-Day.
“We are very pleased to have Mr. Gilmore not only attend the Symposium, but speak at it,” said Mike Culver, executive director of Wright Museum. “He is a very well known resident of Cambridge, Mass with a unique perspective on the war and challenges he faced that were unique to him.”
After WWII, Gilmore co-founded Unity Bank in Roxbury, the first black-owned commercial bank in Boston, and played a key role in the redevelopment of the Southwest Corridor, Newmarket industrial district, and other areas.
Honoring the 75th Anniversary of Operation Overlord on Tuesday, July 2,3 A Symposium on D-Day is sponsored by Two International Group.
“This event is a chance to speak with and learn from experts on D-Day as well as a gentleman who was there — this is not to be missed,” added Culver.
A Symposium on D-Day will take place on Tuesday, July 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in The Great Hall at Wolfeboro’s Towne Hall. Admission is $15 for non-members and $10 for members.
The region’s leading resource for educators and learners of all ages on World War II, the Wright Museum features more than 14,000 items in its collection that are representative of both the homefront and battlefield.
