June 2024 in photos: Paste BN's most memorable pictures of the year
On June 6, the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion during WWII, Springfield News-Leader photographer Nathan Papes covered a ceremony honoring Jack Hamlin, a 102-year-old veteran who served as a rescue swimmer in the U.S. Coast Guard on D-Day, pulling wounded soldiers from the chilly waters onto a Coast Guard cutter. Hamlin was presented a key to the city and the mayor read a proclamation in his honor. “In front of a packed lobby of a senior living center, Hamlin was full of emotion as the U.S. Coast Guard presented him with a flag,” said Papes. “I've had the pleasure of photographing Jack Hamlin on several occasions during my career, little did I know this would be the last time.” Hamlin died several weeks after the ceremony, on Saturday, July 20, 2024.