Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola --January 15, 2020:The Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola is proud to host a special observance in honor of Mr. Patrick G. Emmanuel’s military service to our nation during World War IIas he celebrates his 100thbirthday. The event will take place at the WWII Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park inPensacola on Saturday, January 25that 11:00am.“Members of the community, especially our youth, are encouraged to visit the Park and witness this battle-hardened hero of the greatest generationas he turns 100 years of age in the most appropriate of settings,” said Dave Glassman, member of the Park Foundation Boardof Directors.

Mr. Emmanuel was born in Pensacola, Florida on January 25, 1920 to George Joseph Emmanuel and Mary Josephine Gibney Emmanuel. He attended the University of Florida beginning at age 16. In 1940, he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, then completed two years in the College of Law until he was old enough to accept his Army ROTC commission. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945 before returning for his final year of law school.

Mr. Emmanuelwas assigned to the 630thTank Destroyer Battalion andattached to the 28thInfantry Division. His unit entered the war in Europe on July 24, 1944 when it landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, helping toliberate France, Belgium and Luxembourg. During the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, his unit experienced “some of the most intense warfare known to man.” His unit also helped hold the Vossenack Ridge.

Starting on December 16, 1944, Mr. Emmanuel’sbattalion fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes, one of the major battles of WWII. The unit also fought at Colmar and the Ruhr Pocket. They continued fighting in France and Germany until V-E Day on May 8, 1945. Mr. Emmanuelwas awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged from the Army with the rank of Major upon the conclusion of WWII in Europe.

Practicing law for more than sixty-five years, Mr. Emmanuel retiredfromEmmanuel, Sheppard & Condon in 2014. He and his wife, Olivia, raised seven children and remain living in Pensacola.