An unusual partnership has formed between a local entity and a small European municipality that, if successful, will help honor a local serviceman who gave his life during World War II.

A village in France, located near Paris is the place that’s planning to honor John Henry Thomas of Negaunee and other soldiers who died liberating the village in 1944.

Thomas was killed in action on Aug. 23, 1944.

Thomas graduated from Negaunee High School in 1937, and he had played the sousaphone in the school band and the city band.

A French man whose first name is Greg recently reached out to the Negaunee City Band asking for whatever information and photos they could gather about Thomas.

The Mining Journal had one photo of him, cropped from a group shot of the city band.

The quality is poor.

Members of the Negaunee City Band are eager to help Greg with his quest. To date, they have not been able to locate a high school yearbook for the class of 1937.

“Joe” Thomas played in the city band for several years.

Thomas was a member of the Mitchell Methodist Church, where he had taught a boys’ Sunday School class. Before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942, he was employed by the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company.

The Mining Journal asks Negaunee residents to search their attics and memories for images and/or information about Thomas.

Helping facilitate this celebration seems like a good thing to do.