The event is planned as the second and final reunion of actors from the acclaimed wartime drama that charted the exploits of members of “Easy Company,” part of the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
In the Band of Brothers series, which featured Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg among its directors and producers, the main part of the action takes place during and following the events of the Allied Landings in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The Normandy Landings marked the beginning of the end of World War II, ultimately leading to German surrender and victory in Europe, VE Day, on May 8, the following year.
Subject to actors’ availability due to filming schedules, a number of Band of Brothers cast members have already indicated they are keen to participate in the D-Day anniversary commemorations scheduled to take place at Overlord Omaha Beach Museum, the Utah Beach Museum and the Richard D. Winters Leadership Monument in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France during June 5-7 2015. In the Band of Brothers series, Winters’ character was played by Damian Lewis.
This year’s Normandy commemoration will be the first to occur more than 70 years after the end of the Second World War with the 70th anniversary of VE Day being celebrated throughout Europe a few weeks earlier on May 8, 2015.
The Band of Brothers reunion offers the public a chance to meet cast members, obtain autographs and take photos. All proceeds from the planned, ticket-only events will benefit the non-profit World War II Foundation, whose mission is to educate future generations about the enormous sacrifices and achievements of sixteen million Americans who served in WWII.
Band of Brothers cast members, who have already indicated they hope to participate in the D-Day Anniversary 2015, include (character names in brackets):
Scott Grimes (Don Malarkey)
James Madio (Frank Perconte)
Ross McCall (Joe Liebgott)
Rick Gomez (George Luz)
Bart Ruspoli (Ed Tipper)
William Tapley (British Tank Commander)
Frank John Hughes (“Wild” Bill Guarnere)
Robin Laing (“Babe” Heffron)
Peter Youngblood Hills (“Shifty” Powers)
Eion Bailey (David Webster)
George Calil (“Mo” Alley)
Peter O’Meara (Norman Dike)
448Philip Barantini (Wayne “Skinny” Sisk)
Stephen McCole (“Moose” Heyliger)
Shane Taylor (”Doc” Roe)
Mark Lawrence (William Dukeman)
