Providence, RI - The National World War II Museum, founded in New Orleans, LA by the late historian and author, Stephen Ambrose (Band of Brothers, D- Day: June 6, 1944, Citizen Soldiers) has addd a local documentary to its national archives for the purposes of research and public use.

D-Day + 62 years: Rhode Island Veterans Return to Normandy has been added to the National WWII museum’s collection of oral histories and programs designed to educate the public on the role played by veterans on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

For its national release, the documentary’s title has been changed to D-Day: The Price of Freedom.

The film follows the experiences of six Rhode Island D-Day veterans on their return to Normandy in the spring of 2006. For some of the veterans, it was their first trip back to Normandy in 62 years.

The documentary, produced by Tim Gray and filmed and edited by award winning Director of Photography, Jim Karpeichik (Ocean State Video) aired twice this past June on NBC10 in Providence. The film is also scheduled to air again this fall on RIPBS.

“It’s a great honor to have the film placed in the archives of the National World War II Museum” said Tim Gray. “This insures the personal stories these veterans have to share will live on forever. D-Day was a turning point in the history of the world and we need make sure the sacrifices of veterans are not forgotten.”

The DVD remains on sale at select CVS stores in Rhode Island and the Quonset Air Museum in North Kingstown. The DVD can also be purchased on-line at www.timgraymedia.com.cybertechnical.com. Part of the proceeds of every sale of the film benefit the construction of the new World War II Memorial in Providence.

Copies of the film on D-Day will also be sent free of charge to all high schools, universities and libraries in the state of Rhode Island for their personal archives and use in educational research.

Tim Gray Media, Inc.

Tim Gray Media, a documentary film company with an additional focus on Public Relations, was founded in 2006 by former NBC10 sports anchor and news and sports reporter Tim Gray.

Joseph B. Nadeau, Staff Writer 05/25/2006

WOONSOCKET — The bad memories of the early hours of D-Day will always be there. Nothing will ever change that for Richard D. Fazzio of 319 Mowry St.

But thanks to a visit back to Normandy this spring, Fazzio has a new outlook on his role in the Allied invasion of Nazi-held France 62 years ago.
Fazzio returned to Normandy as part of Providence film producer Tim Gray’s work on a project honoring Rhode Island veterans of the invasion, and will be on the big screen at the Stadium Theatre this Sunday when the hourlong documentary “D-Day +62; Rhode Island Veterans Return to Normandy” debuts. It will also air on WJAR-TV (Channel 10) in observance of this year’s anniversary of D-Day on June 6.

“It brought back a lot of what I went through, but I’m glad that I went,” Fazzio said about his participation in the new documentary.

Fazzio joined four other Rhode Island veterans of the invasion — Frank Chomka, 83, of Mendon Road, Cumberland; Wilson Delasanta, of New Clark Road, Cumberland; Leo Heroux, of Central Falls; and Chris Heisler, of Wakefield — in making the trip, and will be featured with several other Rhode Islanders with connections to D-Day in the completed project.
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By Arline A. Fleming
Journal Staff Writer

SOUTH KINGSTOWN Given that he was a schools superintendent, a University of Rhode Island professor, a town councilman, a clambake master, and a subject of a recent World War II documentary, it’s no surprise that Walter “Chris” Heisler, of Matunuck, has amassed enough newspaper clippings to fill the one-room Michigan schoolhouse where he taught as a young man.

He’s 90, and still more clippings bearing his name can be added to his collection, most recently from a French paper documenting his return to a small Normandy village that turned out to honor him last month.
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Tim Gray Media produces award-winning long format documentaries, as well as video production that captures your organization’s objectives with accuracy and vitality. From films that air nationally to corporate and training DVDs, TGM has decades of experience in writing, producing and videography.

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