When the opportunity arose for two high schoolers to represent their Civil Air Patrol squadron at the 80th anniversary of D-Day earlier this month in Normandy, France, Jack and Lauren Compton looked toward their community and raised more than $8,000 to make the incredible chance a reality.
The brother and sister both belong to the cadet program in Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. The cadet program focuses on building well rounded Americans and aerospace leaders through a curriculum targeting leadership, aerospace, fitness and character.
Jack, a rising sophomore at La Plata High School, is a cadet technical sergeant in Civil Air Patrol and Lauren, a rising senior at La Plata High School, is a cadet master sergeant.
The siblings started Civil Air Patrol in the St. Mary’s Composite Squadron in May of 2023. However, their family often spends their summers in Florida at their grandmother’s house, so they transfer their Civil Air Patrol membership to the Clearwater Composite Squadron in Clearwater, Fla., for the summer seasons.
When their Florida Civil Air Patrol squadron was invited to Normandy to participate in this year’s official commemoration events for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the siblings knew they wanted to go.
This was the only Civil Air Patrol squadron from the United States that participated in the events, according to 1st Lt. Jason Hewitt, the deputy commander for cadets at the Clearwater Composite Squadron.
“[The trip] was outstanding,” Jack said.
Not only did the siblings get to participate in the official D-Day memorial parade and ceremony on June 8, they also were part of memorial ceremonies on June 6 at Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial where more than 44,000 Americans are buried. They said their flight stood at attention for the entirety of the ceremony, which was almost an hour and a half long.
Honoring and remembering all of the people who lost their lives in the Battle of Normandy and World War II in general is what these celebrations were for, and the siblings said standing as a representation for these lost lives makes a difference.
“It was representation,” their mother, Carolyn Compton said. “It’s honor.”
The D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, left more than 4,000 Allied troops dead and between 4,000 and 9,000 German troops dead. The brother and sister also visited the La Cambe German Military Cemetery in Normandy, where more than 21,000 German soldiers are buried.
During the official parade, Jack and Lauren said they walked near the front of the parade, between a baton company and a marching band. The siblings and some of the other cadets handed out candy to children.
“[The children] were so surprised,” Lauren said. “It was really sweet to see.”
During the week of commemorations in Normandy, Lauren said there were many people dressed in World War II costumes representing generals and pilots. She said there were even women dressed as teleoperators and code breakers.
“It was a really cool experience,” Lauren said.
Lauren, while in Normandy, met the author of the book, “How Easy Company Became a Band of Brothers.”
Chris Langlois, the author, told Lauren that while writing the book he met all of the members of Easy Company, a tactical unit that played a significant role in the Allies’ victory on D-Day. This company included Lauren and Jack Compton’s relative, Lynn “Buck” Compton, who flew in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
Lynn Compton was also known for being a part of the team that successfully prosecuted Sirhan B. Sirhan for the murder of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.
Langlois told Lauren that her relative had a daughter that Lauren and Jack did not know about, and once the siblings returned home, Langlois could put them in contact.
“So cool, a new family member,” Lauren said.
The siblings said they learned a lot of information about D-Day, but also quite a bit of history about France.
“[The trip] was really well done because I learned as much about France as I learned about World War II,” Lauren said.
This nine-day trip cost more than $8,000, so the Compton family knew they needed to raise money, and that’s what they did. The family raised all of the necessary funds using donations from family, friends and small businesses, with their largest donation coming from the Harry White Wilmer American Legion Post 82.
Jack, through his nonprofit Musical Traditions, started playing the clarinet at patriotic events for the American Legion more than two years ago. Lauren, a harpist, accompanied her brother during a Memorial Day performance for the Legion, deepening the family’s rapport and connection with the organization, their mother said.
The Harry White Wilmer American Legion Post 82 donated more than $4,000 to the Comptons’ trip.
“[The American Legion] said get us the information, we’ll support that,” Carolyn Compton said. “It was the American Legion coming out straight at the beginning and saying ‘we got you’ that made all the difference.”
The American Legion’s ladies auxiliary, Foster’s Grille, Michele Posey with REMAX and Greg Conklin with State Farm Insurance also all supported and donated to the family’s fundraising.
“[Jack and Lauren] learned a lot,” their mother said. “What a trip.”
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