Woonsocket's Picard brothers came home from WW II
April 3, 2011
Raymond and James Picard were greeted by their proud parents back in 1944 in front of their Jenkes Street home.
WOONSOCKET -- There can be no greater moment during war time than when parents are reunited with sons and daughters who are serving in the military.
The Picard family had such a moment in the photo above as sons Raymond and James, took a picture in front of their Jenkes Street home with their parents, Anna and Patrick.
James Picard’s daughter, Linda Fontaine, sent these photos from the family scrapbook in to The Call.
Here is part of what she wrote:
“James and Ray were drafted the same day. James was initially drafted a year earlier but developed pneumonia and was not accepted.
“Both James and Raymond served in the Army during WW II. Ray was stationed in the Philippines and worked as a medic.
“James was stationed in Okinawa (and two other islands in Japan that do not exist anymore due to the atomic bomb --- Enewetak and Bikini). and worked in anti aircraft. James (Willie Picard) served as a Firefighter in the city of Woonsocket for 38 years and currently lives at The Villa St Antoine in North Smithfield.
Raymond passed away about five years ago.
--- Linda Fontaine
