US Rangers Centre receives a special visit

Graham Walton welcomed Cynthia Reed and her two nieces Alicia and Isabella Buchner to the US Rangers Centre, Carrickfergus. Cynthia is the daughter of the late Robert Reed, a member of the 1^st US Rangers Battalion. The elite US Ranger Battalion remains the only US Army unit to be activated on foreign soil. Robert was recruited and began training in Carrickfergus on June 19, 1942.Robert then returned to Carrickfergus in 1992 to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the formation of the unit along with fourteen other veterans. Cynthia accompanied him on that visit. 

Pictured L to R is Cynthia Reed and her two nieces Isabella and Alicia Buchner who have travelled from California to visit the US Rangers Centre in Carrickfergus. Alicia and Isabella were only two years old when their grandfather passed away, fifteen years ago. Their visit was an emotional one as many of the items now on display in the US Rangers Museum belong to Roberts. These include personal letters sent to home from Northern Ireland and his Silver Star medal, the 3^rd highest US award for personal valour in combat.