Hopkinsville is once again welcoming in delegates from our sister city, all the way from Carentan, France, and they’ll explore the region along with an entourage of locals.
The day began early at Visit Hopkinsville, where the Mayor of Carentan and other representatives met with Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight, Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam and other local officials. Carentan Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneur says they’re happy to be back on this side of the ocean visiting with friends, and they’re happy to keep the relationship with Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell alive.
Mayor Knight warmly welcomed them, saying they’ll have plenty of time to explore Hopkinsville in the coming days, and he’s proud of the connection we have.
Hopkinsville and Carentan were recognized as sister cities in 2019, when Lhonneur made his first visit to western Kentucky with other delegates. But the relationship between the two cities began long before that when soldiers from the 101st landed on the beaches of Normandy over 80 years ago. Soldiers from the 101st were responsible for liberating Carentan from Nazi control in the days following the D-Day Invasion.
The delegation will make numerous stops on their tour, including a trip to Nashville and a visit to Fort Campbell—WHOP’s Dionte Berry is traveling with them, and will have more information on this visit later.