(BETHANY BEACH, Del.) - Every year July 27 is Periers day at Bethany Beach. Periers is Bethany's Sister City located in Normandy, France. Though 4254 miles apart, these two places are closer than you might have thought.
"During World War II U.S. soldiers helped liberate that town" explains Julie Malewski, events director and media coordinator at Bethany Beach.
Diane Cowell, from South Bethany, helped create the Sister City relationship between Periers and Bethany because her family has strong ties to France.
"My father was a solider in World Way II and he came in on Utah Beach which is where the D-Day landings were. And one of the towns he was in charge of the battalion that liberated was Normandy" says Cowell.
Bethany celebrates with boardwalk entertainment and a concert at the bandstand.
Christian Laverule is here from Normandy to celebrate, while a celebration honoring Bethany Beach takes place in France.
"Freedom came from the states. And that is not something we are about to forget. So each time we can make it we want to be able to say thank you to you" Laverule tells WRDE.
Periers Vice Mayor, Marc Fedene, also visits Bethany for the celebration. Fedene says "It's a beautiful experience to be among our friends in Bethany today, to celebrate the Periers Day on July 27. Day of the commemoration of the liberation of Periers in France. It's a big honor to be here amongst you to all these wonderful memories with our American friends."