History books will forever speak of the countless heroics and astonishing life of General George S. Patton. He'll always be remembered as the Army officer who became an Olympian, the "Bandit Killer" at Columbus, the "Father of Armor" in WWI, and the liberator of Europe. It's hard for anyone to stand in that shadow, but Helen Patton, his granddaughter, would have made him extremely proud.
Like every member of the Patton family, Helen has done many great things with her life while also carrying the torch for her father and grandfather. From attending ceremonies commemorating WWII anniversaries to heading up the Patton Foundation, which aids returning troops and veterans in need, Helen continues the Patton tradition of giving to our great country.
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Her work with the Patton Foundation and the Patton Stiftung Sustainable Trust keeps the memory of the WWII generation alive.
She also set out to fix a missed opportunity in history by hosting the soldiers of the 101st Airborne in a game of football. In 1944, there were plans for the troops to play what was dubbed "The Champagne Bowl." These plans were cut short on Christmas Day because they needed in a march toward the Battle of the Bulge.
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Helen Patton lay flowers at General George Patton’s grave.
Photo Credit: DoD News / Flickr
With Luxembourg firmly liberated for the past 74 years, Helen Patton played in integral role in hosting what was renamed the "Remembrance Bowl." The game was played on June 2nd, 2018, in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France by men of the 101st. Patton told the Army Times,
"I felt that we should play the game that never happened for them. It's a new way to commemorate. It's a way to turn the page of history."
The event will now be an annual tradition.
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Helen Patton champions military history as well. She has produced two award-winning documentaries, one about General John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing and another about the continued struggles of war long after troops return.
She also hosted an amazing TEDxTalk about her grandfather, which can be seen below:
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This article originally appeared on We Are The Mighty.
Featured photo of Helen Patton at a Veterans Day event: DoD News / Flickr
