GRAFTON — Three trips to Normandy, France, were "life-changing" for Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow and his wife, Lynne, and are a part of their beautiful love story.
Normandy is a region in France, and its coastline includes legendary cliffs and beachheads, including Omaha Beach, the site of the famous D-Day landing. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, is a permanent concession granted by France to the U.S government for the efforts in World War II to protect France and its people.
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It is the final resting place for 9,389 deceased American military personnel, most of whom lost their lives in D-Day landings and World War II operations.
Lynne and Mike married on Sept. 7, 2007, after they started dating on June 25, 2004.
In his love story submission to Riverbender.com, Mayor Morrow described Lynne as a "kindred spirit" to him.
"We both love God and believe in Jesus Christ, and both want to do things for others," Morrow said. "We don't look for monetary rewards; we just want to help others."
Morrow has donated his salary as Grafton Mayor back to the city during his tenure since 2001, which shows his giving nature, with many other actions as a politician.
Morrow said he traveled to Normandy three times starting in 2016, including a trip with “Justice Betty Weaver,” whom he described as a Michigan Supreme Court justice who “passed away” and “loved the area.” He said he gave a speech at Omaha Beach during the 70th anniversary observances and later attended the 75th anniversary, when he said about 25,000 people were present and President Donald Trump spoke at the cemetery.
“Both former President Obama and President Trump gave excellent speeches on the dedication of the military,” Morrow said. “This was imprinted on us.”
Morrow said he watched Trump greet veterans and stop to speak with each and every one of them.
“In his normal fashion, he stopped at each of the veterans, and he saluted them and talked to each one for a couple of minutes,” Morrow said. “There was not a dry eye in the house.”
Back in Grafton, Morrow said the Normandy experience was also connected with the landscape along the river bluffs in Grafton.
Morrow said a project called the Grafton National Memorial of Military Ascent is in its “finishing phase 1," with a June 2026 opening planned. Fundraising is also planned for a museum as part of “phase 2" of the project.
“If you haven't been to Normandy, put it on your bucket list,” Morrow said. "It has meant so much to Lynne and me, saying in essence, it changed our lives."
Driving past the towering limestone bluffs overlooking the Great River Road and Mississippi River at Grafton in 2019, Mike Morrow said to his wife, Lynne, “It’s Pointe du Hoc," as he looked up, which led to the upcoming Grafton National Memorial of Military Ascent.
The visits by the Morrow family will also forever be "life-changing" to Grafton with the new National Memorial of Military Ascent, which will not only be a national but worldwide treasure once it is finished.
The goal now is to open the National Military of Military Ascent on June 6, 2026.
Morrow said he submitted his love story to Riverbender.com to honor his wife.
“She is wonderful and meant everything to me, and I wanted her to know what she has meant to my life,” he said.
How to submit
Submitting your love story is easy. You can fill out our Love Story form at https://contribute.riverbender.com/page/tell-us-your-love-story/ or email us at news@riverbender.com.
