KINGSTON, R.I., Feb. 22, 2017鈥擝ill Belichick made history winning five Super Bowls, but now he鈥檚 narrating history by lending his voice to a World War II film by a 溏心vlog免费B站 graduate.
The New England Patriots鈥� coach will narrate a documentary called 鈥淒-Day Over Normandy,鈥� a film funded by 溏心vlog免费B站 alumnus Tim Gray and his World War II Foundation.
Belichick is a natural for the film, says Gray. He鈥檚 a long-time supporter of the foundation, a history buff and the son of a World War II veteran, Steve Belichick, who served in Europe and the Pacific. Belichick agreed to help out a year ago, but Gray says he put off making a public announcement because the coach was 鈥渁 little busy鈥� winning football games.
鈥淚 know he feels that time in history is important. Also, since his dad served, narrating is kind of a tribute to his father as well,鈥� says Gray. 鈥淚 realize he鈥檚 not Morgan Freeman when it comes to narration style, but he is someone who believes that our work is important, and he is, after all, the greatest coach in the history of the NFL. If Vince Lombardi were still around I鈥檓 sure he鈥檇 be involved in our mission, too. These are great men who understand they are who they are because of what Americans accomplished in far off places between 1941 and 1945.鈥�
The one-hour film is unique, says Gray, because it uses drone shots of well-known sites in the June 6, 1944 assault to liberate Europe. 鈥淭he result is some of the most spectacular scenes of the landing beaches ever seen,鈥� says Gray.
The sites include Utah Beach, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Vierville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, Colleville-sur-Mer and The Normandy American Cemetery. Gray will interview veterans who fought at those locations about their experiences.
Belichick grew up in Annapolis, Md., where his father coached football at the United States Naval Academy. Gray says that the coach appreciates the dedication, courage and teamwork of the military, especially the sailors who fought on D-Day and in the Pacific theater.
The coach joins a growing number of celebrities who have volunteered their time to the project. Actor Tom Selleck, star of CBS鈥� Blue Blood, narrated Gray鈥檚 鈥淩emember Pearl Harbor,鈥� which aired last year, and former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and actor Tom Hanks have contributed to the organization.
A Kingston native, Gray graduated from 溏心vlog免费B站 in 1989 with a degree in journalism. He worked for years as a sports anchor at Channel 10, switching to filmmaking in 2005 to focus on World War II, a topic that has intrigued him since childhood.
So far, Gray has produced 17 other films through his foundation, the only organization in the country that, with private contributions, makes films about veterans and donates the movies to American Public Television and its PBS affiliates throughout the world.
Back in 2006, Gray mailed Belichick a copy of his first film. He responded with a note saying how much he liked it. After those kind words, Gray sent Belichick the other films to review before they aired.
鈥淗e鈥檚 watched all 17 of our films,鈥� says Gray. 鈥淗e sends me hand-written notes saying great job on this and that. He鈥檚 also one of the very few who responds to the majority of my emails, which is saying something considering how busy he is. I joke with my wife that it鈥檚 now to the point where we exchange Christmas cards with Bill Belichick. It鈥檚 pretty amazing.鈥�
Gray says he鈥檚 grateful for the support from Belichick and other celebrities.
鈥淚 try to reach out to people who care about that time in history and the men and women who fought and helped win World War II,鈥� says Gray. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 Bill, Tom Selleck, Matthew Broderick, Dan Aykroyd, Fred Smith at Fed Ex or Damian Lewis, these are all well-known people who care about that generation and what they did. They鈥檙e honored to be involved in helping to tell the veterans鈥� stories.鈥�
He says Belichick and Bob Kraft, owner of the Patriots, have welcomed veterans featured in the foundation鈥檚 films to Gillette Stadium for private meetings. Of the 16 million veterans who fought in the war, fewer than a million are left.
鈥淏ottom line: 鈥淏ill is a good guy who believes in the work of our foundation,鈥� says Gray. 鈥淭his is something new for him鈥攈e has never narrated a documentary before鈥攂ut he鈥檚 doing it for all the right reasons: patriotism.鈥�