The Other Side of the Franc
As we dipped and twirled and jitterbugged in the little town square of Ste. Mère Eglise, to fifties music streaming from a small café, my wife and I would from time to time have our eyes drawn to the mannequin hanging from the church steeple.
This mock up of Cpl. John Steele, whose parachute became entangled with the church spire on the morning of June 6, 1944, has remained there in dedication to the bravery of the members of the 82nd Airborne. These men under silk were largely slaughtered as their chutes descended into German fire, as the liberation of Europe began in earnest. This monument to freedom has been maintained by the citizens of Ste. Mère Eglise for over 65 years.
As we were spotted dancing in the square we were joined by French of all ages, full of questions about us and about the U.S. Some joined us in dancing; all expressed their gratitude for what America had done for them so many years ago, as if we had had a personal hand in that event. We encountered the same adulation and gratitude everywhere we went. In the little bank, off the square, a teller spent a great amount of time working through my stumbling French simply so I could buy a couple stamps, while a queue formed behind me. Not only did those in line not complain because I was taking so much time, they all shook my hand as I walked past them on my way out, as an expression of gratitude to America. The French remember.
On a chilly September night in 1781, Admiral François-Joseph de Grasse landed 3,000 French reinforcements in Virginia who promptly and decisively defeated the British in the Battle of Chesapeake Bay, drawing away the British forces and blocking the coast until British Lord Cornwallis surrendered. This courageous tactical maneuver helped bring to an end America’s Revolutionary War against the British Empire, ensuring the independence of the United States. The National Park Service maintains a monument commemorating Admiral de Grasse and the French military who fought for America’s freedom.
Today, only the local de Grasse l’Alliance Française honors the memories of these brave Frenchmen in a small yearly picnic. Americans do not remember such things.
Then there was Marie Paul Joseph Roche Yves Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette --- (next)
Written by Frank Breen
Bonjour, mes amis! I'm Frank Breen and I've been practicing Medical Oncology for over forty years. A fascination with WWII led me to obtain a Master's Degree in Military History and to travel to France as both a student and a teacher. The first time my wife and I saw the magnificent Normandy countryside, we fell in love with France, a love that has endured. Allow me to share with you some of our adventures in the "Land of the Hexagon".
