LEXINGTON, KY, July 04, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Tuesday, July 8 at 6:30 PM ET, the lives and sacrifice of Ray and Turner Flynn — two brothers from Lexington who gave their lives in World War II — will be honored at a special public ceremony and exhibit at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, located at 141 East Main Street, Lexington.

This tribute is part of the national Brothers in Arms storytelling tour, created by historian and author Kevin M. Callahan in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Commission. The exhibit and tour honor more than 700 sets of American brothers who fought and died together during WWII and are now buried side by side in U.S. military cemeteries overseas.

Born and raised in the rural community of Station Camp near Lexington, Ray and Turner Flynn were two of nine children raised by Charles and Laura Flynn. Their home, listed simply as "Dirt Road" in the 1930 Census, was a rocky hill farm that produced just enough food for the large family to survive. That tough upbringing and their mother's strict discipline helped shape the character and resilience the brothers would carry into war.

Drafted in 1943, both men were sent to the European front lines. Ray Flynn served in the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, fighting in major battles from Normandy to the Hürtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. On March 25, 1945, Ray was killed in action while attempting to break out from the bridgehead at Remagen, just nine days after his unit crossed the Rhine River.

Turner Flynn served in the 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, and was killed on July 9, 1944, during the battle for Beaucoudray in Normandy. That six-day engagement resulted in over 850 American casualties, including 166 killed. For his bravery in that fierce battle, Turner was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second-highest honor for valor.

Callahan first felt compelled to write Brothers in Arms after a visit with his family to the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Italy. There, he saw the graves of two brothers buried side by side, a moment that sparked his journey to uncover and share the stories of other fallen siblings.

"Many of these heroes are remembered only within their families," says Callahan. "This exhibit is about making sure their legacy becomes part of our national memory."

The Brothers in Arms exhibit features over 700 historical photographs, battlefield artifacts, and first-hand accounts. On July 8, special attention will be given to the Flynn Brothers, with members of the Flynn family in attendance to receive the community's gratitude.

This moving tribute is free and open to the public.

Event Details:
What: Brothers in Arms Tribute to the Flynn Brothers
When: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 6:30 PM ET
Where: Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center
Address: 141 East Main Street, Lexington, KY

About Brothers in Arms:

Created by Kevin M. Callahan in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Commission, Brothers in Arms is a national storytelling exhibit and tour honoring American brothers who died serving together in World War II.

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