EMPORIA — Two Kansas brothers killed on D-Day were laid to rest Saturday in Emporia, more than 80 years after their deaths during the Allied invasion of Normandy.
Jay Moreland, 21, and William Moreland, 19, died together on June 6, 1944, when their landing boat struck a mine and exploded at Omaha Beach in France. All 22 people aboard were killed. The brothers’ remains were recently identified, allowing them to return home for burial.
Family members, friends and community members gathered for the military funeral, including their youngest brother, 85-year-old Larry Moreland. The youngest of seven siblings, Larry was just 3 when Jay and William, known as Bill or Billy, died.
Larry described the brothers as best friends who did everything together. When Bill announced he planned to enlist, Jay immediately decided to join him.
“He announced to the family that he was going to enlist. His brother Jay immediately said, ‘well, if Bill is going to go, I’m going to have to go too,’” Larry said.
Clayton Childs, commander of Emporia American Legion Post 5, said the brothers’ sacrifice came on a day that changed history for the United States and the world.
For Larry, the ceremony brought long-awaited closure and thoughts of the parents who never saw their sons return home.
“If only my parents could’ve been here to see this, they would’ve been truly, truly grateful,” he said.
