A Fort Carson soldier honored his family’s history this week in France ahead of commemorating the 81st anniversary of D-Day on Friday.

On Monday, Sgt. John Simmons visited the grave of his great-great-uncle Cpl. Raymond Parry in St. Mihiel American Cemetery, marking the first time in 95 years a member of the family visited the grave of the World War I soldier who never went home to Wyoming.

Later in the week, he expected to receive his promotion to staff sergeant on Utah Beach, a battle site his great-grandfather Glenn Thomas Workman passed through as part of the 6th Armored Division, after it was secured 81 years ago.

Simmons comes from a long line of service members on both sides of his family, including three members who served in World War I and five in World War II. Family members also served in the Korean, Vietnam, Cold War and Desert Storm conflicts.

It’s a history that’s important to his grandmother, Helen Ryan, who has traced family connections back to the American colonies, he said.

“I have a lot of family pride,” said Simmons, who is from Omaha, Neb. “My family’s been here and helped build and protect this nation since the beginning.”

Visiting Parry’s grave helped Simmons feel more connected to the man who served in the 148 Field Artillery, 41st Division and died in 1918 of exposure to phosgene gas. The gas may have given Parry extreme pneumonia.

While at the cemetery, Simmons recreated a photo taken in 1930 when Parry’s mother, Hattie Heidy, traveled to France with a Gold Star mother’s trip to visit her son’s grave.

Heidy’s granddaughter, Ryan, is now in her late 80s and had kept the photo and other original documents from Parry’s service.

“She’s been extremely happy that I’ve been given this opportunity,” she said.

Simmons also carries the memory of his great-grandfather and Battle of the Bulge veteran, Workman, with him as part of his name. When Workman’s grandson couldn’t say grandpa as a young child, it came out as just “Par” and that’s the name that stuck. It’s Simmons’ middle name now.

As part of following in the family tradition, Simmons is now a forward observer with the 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Division Artillery. A role where he coordinates mortar artillery and airstrikes. He hopes to stay until retirement and eventually pilot Apache helicopters.