Three days of Remembrance in France

de Eric Vandroux
Coordinator and Public Relation

<<retour

Last September 10 1996 René Deltieure passed away...
But, who was René Deltieure ?

Born in France in 1925, René Deltieure became American citizen when baby, his parents and him went to live in USA...
In 1943, he joined the Third Infantry Division, 7th infantry regiment, Company M.
His battles credits : Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Central Europe.

His medals and citations :

- Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster :
He was wounded during the battle of Vy les Lure (September 15 1944), and at Vervezelle (October 21 1944).

- European / African / Middle Eastern Campaign Medal,

- Army Good Conduct Medal.

From left to right : Mr Robert T. Cavaness, Superintendant of the American Cemetery of Epinal, Mr Cherpion, member of Parliament, Mr Etienne Pourcher, County Councillor, Mrs Josette Deltieure, Mr Lalandre, Councillor of the Region, Mr Bonnard, the ceremony master, Colonel retired, French Foreign Legion…
In this ceremony there were representatives of French patriotic associations, citizens of Vosges Mountains, the members of the Rock of the Marne associations …

Mrs Josette Deltieure and her son, Claude, the Rock of the Marne Association…

07 may 2006 : 11h30 AM : Vervezelle : dedication of the plaque in memory of Staff Sergeant Rene Deltieure :

Speeches by Mr Etienne Robert, mayor of Vervezelle, and by the first deputy mayor of Vervezelle. They spoke about the life of “Frenchy” (nickname of Rene Deltieure in the Third Infantry Division). They spoke about his story between America and France…
They spoke about the work for memory…

Then speeches by Jean Marie Siret and Eric Vandroux, about “Frenchy's" war,
his citations, and the circumstances of his wound at Vervezelle…

Speech by Mrs Deltieure… She spoke about the meaning of this plaque for her family, for her husband born in France, for “Frenchy”, for Staff Sergent Rene Deltieure who was so proud to be soldier in the famous Third Infantry Division, so proud to have done something for the liberation of France…
Then, we sang “The MARSEILLAISE”, our national anthem… Just after, the members of the Rock of the Marne Associations sang “God Bless America” !

This plaque on the wall of the town hall of Vervezelle…
This plaque is not only for the memory of Staff Sergeant Deltieure…
This plaque is also for the memory of Rene’s comrades in arms.…

   
The Rock of the Marne Association
 

The team of Jean Pierre Cocquard, owners of Jeeps and dodges of Lunéville in Lorraine.

After the “vin d’honneur” at the town hall of Vervezelle, after the lunch at Biffontaine, there was the visit of the others monuments for the soldiers of US Army in the District of Brouvelieures :
- Biffontaine at the monument for the 442nd Infantry Regiment US (the famous Japanese Nisei),
- Frémifontaine at the monument for the 45th Infantry Division,
- Bruyères at the monument for the 36th Infantry Division…
In October 1944 there were great battles in this area… A lot of young American soldiers suffered and often died for our freedom in these mountains and deep forests…
This day nobody wanted to forget them…
Each time, offering of weaths… and a thought for them…

08 may 2006 : 11h30 AM : Vesoul : Victory in Europe Day commemoration…

Mrs Josette Deltieure and Mr Claude Deltieure represented the American veterans, and especially the veterans of the Third Infantry Division…

And at the end of this ceremony, the presentation of the plaque for the memory of the soldiers of the Third Infantry Division US…

Mr Alain Joyandet spoke about the work of the Third Infantry Division during the liberation of Vesoul this September 12 1944…
And about the friendship between France and America… And how is important the work for memory… Not forget !

Mrs Josette Deltieure told about the sacrifice of these young American soldiers… And explained that her husband was so proud to have been in this Third Infantry Division… The greatest division of the US Army he always said…
The members of the Rock of the Marne Association were the guardians of this plaque… This plaque for the memory of the Marnemen that we represent since a long time …

This plaque will be dedicated next September at Vesoul…
It will be fixed on the Boulevard Charles de Gaulle, the road of the liberty for the citizen of Vesoul in 1944…
This plaque was the wish of the citizens of Vesoul…

08 may 2006 : 13h30 PM : Saulx de Vesoul : Reception by the mayor, the deputy mayors and the citizen of Saulx de Vesoul.

Mr Christian Bresson, Mayor of Saulx de Vesoul

16h PM: visit of Villers le Sec, Chapelle de Saint Igny

Mr Jean Claude Lachat, Mr Michel Clement, Mrs Josette Deltieure, Mr Jacques Theulin, mayor of Villers le Sec

Mr Michel Clement was 21 years old at the liberation of Saint Igny, a part of the Village of Villers le Sec… He met these American soldiers of the 7th Infantry Regiment. He remembered very well them…
The French resistants were their translators… But he remembered that one of these American soldiers spoke very well French… Perhaps Private Rene Deltieure ?
Then visit of this old very nice chapel…

16H30 PM : visit of Noroy le Bourg
Private Deltieure was awarded a Oak Leaf Cluster (Silver Star) for gallantry in action in this village (September 11 1944) … The citation is at the beginning of this report…
Some citizens of this city remember very well the liberation of Noroy le Bourg : a great battle, a lot of German and American soldiers Killed in Action…
Raymond Zussman, Second Lieutenant Co A, 756th Tank Battalion, 3d Infantry Division was awarded the Medal of honor for the same battle…

Between two members of the Rock of the Marne association :
Mr Claude Deltieure, Mr Jacques Jeannin, mayor of Noroy le Bourg, Mrs Josette Deltieure

17h00 PM : visit of Vy les Lure

Mr Henri Steinmann, Mayor of Vy les Lure, Mrs Josette Deltieure,
Claude her son, and the Rock of the Marne Association

 During his speech, Mr Henri Steinmann read a part of the book “LURE LIBERE” by Mr Pierre Antoine, historian of this area. This part was about the battle of Vy les Lure (September 15 and 16 1944), near the cemetery…
He explained how the Company “L” and 29 soldiers of the Company “M” did their job during this very hard battle…
7 Killed in Action… 16 Missing in Action… 14 wounded in action…
Private Rene Deltieure was wounded for the first time during this battle…
Vy les Lure was liberated by the Third Infantry Division this September 16, at 09 A.M.

Then, everybody went to the cemetery… And in front of the monument for the Killed in Action of the French Resistance,
everybody sang “La Marseillaise” for the memory of “Frenchy”, for the memory of the soldiers of the Third Infantry Division…
Then “vin d’honneur” at the Town Hall, with the citizens of Vy les Lure…

09 may 2006 : 09.00 AM : Lure

Mr Michel Marlin with Mrs Josette Deltieure and Mr Claude Deltieure

Claude Deltieure asked : “What do you know about World War Two ?”
Luciane, 10 years old answered : “This war began in 1939 and finished in 1945.”…
Blandine, 9 years old answered “The American soldiers liberated Lure on September 16 1944”.
Louise, 10 years old explained : “23 young American soldiers died for the liberation of our town”…
And we discovered that Mrs Michele Didier and Mrs Angelique Sanchez, the two teachers of all these children, had explained a lot of things about this period…
But it was not all… We discovered too that some of these very young students got informations thanks several websites…

Then everybody explained to these French chidren the meaning of this war for Hitler and german people, the invasion of Europ by german troops… The war in the world… The life during this terrible period, the liberation of our country…
Mrs Josette Deltieure spoke about her life in France during this time… The story of this very young jewish girl who disappeared for ever…
Mr Claude Deltieure spoke about her father during the war…
Mr Michel Marlin, child during the liberation, met these marnemen at Besançon… He remembered that the American soldiers made no noises when they walked… He remembered that it was not the case of the german soldiers…
He said that he remembers an American soldier who spoke very well French…
Perhaps he was in the 7th Infantry Regiment ? Perhaps this GI’s was Private Rene Deltieure ?
During these three days there were a lot of “PERHAPS”…
Claude Deltieure asked to the children : “Why history is important” ?
A schoolgirl answered : “Because our grandparents lived history, and I want to know it”…
Claude Deltieure said that the most important thing is not the stories of the war, not the stories of unknown soldiers, not the stories of politics people, but the stories of all the members of our families… All these stories who made what we are today…

Mathilde, Mélanie, Anthony, Alizée, Lauriane, Mailys, Océane and the others children…

Then, everybody distributed a lot of chewing gum “Wrigley’s” to the children, nearly the same that the American soldiers gave to the European people during World War Two…
And everybody sang “The Marseillaise”, then Mr Claude Deltieure and me sang “The Star Spangled Banner”…

Claude Deltieure and the exposition about the Third Infantry Division during World War Two

At 11:00 am, end of this event, and end of these three days of remembrance… The remembrance of S/Sgt Rene Deltieure, the remembrance of the soldiers of the Third Infantry Division US… The remembrance of all the American soldiers of World War Two…
These three days of remembrance was the result of the work of a team…
A great thanks to :
 "The Communauté of Communes of the District of Brouvelieures,
- Mr Etienne Pourchet, County Councillor and President of this Communauté, Mayor of Frémifontaine
- Mr Etienne Robert, Mayor of Vervezelle,
- Mr Jean-Marie Siret, citizen of Frémifontaine, associate member in the 45th Infantry Division, coordinator in second,
- Mr Bonnard, Colonel retired of the French Foreign Legion, district of Brouvelieures,
- Mr François Jeancolas, Président of the Souvenir Français of Brouvelieures,
- Mr Denis Henry, mayor of Biffontaine

- Mr Alain Joyandet, Mayor of Vesoul
- Mr Alain Chrétien, Deputy Mayor of Vesoul,
- Mrs Sonia Wicky, Public Relation of the town of Vesoul,

- Mr Christian Bresson, mayor of Saulx de Vesoul,
- Mr Jean-Claude Lachat, first deputy Mayor of Saulx de Vesoul, coordinator in second,

- Mr Jacques Theulin, Mayor of Villers le Sec,
- Mr Jacques Jeannin, Mayor of Noroy le Bourg,
- Mr Henri Steinmann, Mayor of Vy les Lure

- Mr Serge Lecing, Président of the Souvenir Français of the district of Lure,
- Mr Jean Besançon, Past Président of the Souvenir Français of the district of Lure,
- Mr Michel Marlin, Président of the Souvenir Français of the district of Marchaux (near Besançon)

- The members of the association Rock of the Marne…

You have to know that all these persons were very pleased to do something for these three days of remembrance, for the memory of the American soldiers who delivered our country… They did all the best they could, and it was so nice to work with each of them during this project…
The work for memory is not only a thought … It is projects… There are others projects…. Projects about others plaques for American soldiers, projects for monuments…Very soon…"

God Bless America !
Rock of the Marne !
Eric Vandroux
Coordinator and Public Relation

Eric D. Vandroux,  8 avenue du Durgeon, Résidence Molière, Appartement 18A, 70000 Vesoul, FRANCE
( 03 84 76 13 56 (fixe) ( 06 07 74 81 63 (portable)  e-mail : eric.vandroux@libertysurf.fr 

Vesoul, October 8, 2006

This September 12 2006 was a special day for the citizen of Vesoul...
At 14 00 PM everybody could hear the siren of the town, and just after all the bells of Vesoul toll...
As each year, at this date, at this hour... To remember the liberation of our town this September 12 1944 by US Army...

But this year, all the citizens of Vesoul were invited by the mayor of this city to take part in a special ceremony, at the school of the "Boulevard Charles de Gaulle", at 05 30 PM. In fact, it was for the dedication of the plaque for the memory of the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division US who took part in the liberation of Vesoul 62 years ago...
There were :
- Mr Alain Joyandet, mayor of Vesoul,
- Mr Francis Lamy, Prefect of Haute-Saone,
- Mr Jean-Claude Ayala, deputy mayor for the ex-servicemen,
- some children of this school,
- some French flag-holders,
- some French veterans, and some citizens of Vesoul...
And during the ceremony I represented the veterans of the 3rd Infantry Division, and of course the Rock of the Marne Association.

Firstly, the speech of Mr Alain Joyandet, mayor. He explained the choice of this "Boulevard" : the American troops came by this way to deliver our city... And he explained the choice of the wall of this school : another bridge between history and young people... He explained too how freedom was important and brittle in our world, and that it was important to not forget the sacrifice of our liberators... And Mr Francis Lamy, Prefect, spoke about the importance of the work for the memory... And about the importance of freedom in this world where there are wars and terrorism...
And everybody spoke about the friendship between our two countries... Then Mr Joyandet, Mr Lamy, Mr Ayala and me revealed the plaque in front of the children of this school...

During all this ceremony, two flags flew in the wind... They were at the bottom of this plaque...
One of these two flags was an American flag, and was at the left of the plaque.. The other was a french flag, and was at the right... These two small flags came from the Epinal American Cemetery and flew a long time on the graves of the braves...One of the assistants of the Superintendent of this cemetery gave to me them last June... But I thought that these two flags had to be there during this ceremony... This plaque is for all the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division, and we had to not forget all these Marnemen who gave their life for our freedom... Thanks to these two flags who flew on their graves at Epinal, there were invited to this dedication of this plaque for their division...

Then, just after the ceremony, several old persons who were there during the liberation explained what they saw, what they remembered! They were very pleased for this plaque... They know the meaning of the word "freedom"... They remember very well these young soldiers... This September 12 1944 they were very happy to see them. It was for them the end of a very bad period...
During a long time this plaque will explain to everybody why September 12 1944 was so important for our City, and why we have to remember all these young American soldiers who came in our country in 1944, and sometimes died for our freedom...
Thank you, Marnemen !
God bless America
Eric Vandroux

Memorial Day by children of France

Epinal American Cemetery

<<retour

Last May 16 2006, children from Lure and Mailleroncourt Charrette laid flowers on several graves. It was the “Memorial Day by children of France”…

3rd Infantry Division

Kandle Victor L.           First Lieutenant, U.S. Army                15th Infantry Regiment   Medal of Honor

Silverstein Earl              Private First Class, U.S. Army            15th Infantry Regiment

Gill John W.                Private First Class, U.S. Army              30th Infantry Regiment

Sasse Leroy F.             First Lieutenant, U.S. Army                 10th Engineer Combat Battalion

Glanovsky Joseph G. J.  Private, U.S. Army                            3rd Reconnaissance Troop

36th Infantry Division

Errico Patsy W.            Sergeant, U.S. Army                            141st Infantry Regiment

Weicht Ellis R.              Sergeant, U.S. Army                            142nd Infantry Regiment    Medal of Honor

Derda Harry J.              Private First Class, U.S. Army             142nd Infantry Regiment

Phillips Lawrence E.      Private First Class, U.S. Army             143rd Infantry Regiment

Olsen John W.               Private First Class, U.S. Army              143rd Infantry Regiment

442nd Infantry Regiment

Fujioka Teruo              Private First Class, U.S. Army     

Mukai Hachiro            Private First Class, U.S. Army    

45th Infantry Division

Parise Tony                 Private First Class, U.S. Army             179th Infantry Regiment

Keating Thomas F.       Private, U.S. Army                             179th Infantry Regiment

Williamson Isaac G.     Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                   180th Infantry Regiment

70th Infantry Division

Wallace Jack B.          Captain, U.S. Army                             274th Infantry Regiment

Bunstine Harold J.       First Lieutenant, U.S. Army                 276th Infantry Regiment

Oster Edwin E.            Private First Class, U.S. Army             276th Infantry Regiment

Mraovich Michael G.   Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                   276th Infantry Regiment

Whaley Leroy             Private, U.S. Army                               276th Infantry Regiment

Brubacher Joshua B.   Private, U.S. Army                               276th Infantry Regiment

Pond Leon E.              Private, U.S. Army                               276th Infantry Regiment

79th Infantry Division

Kelly John D.              Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army            314th Infantry Regiment    Medal of Honor

80th Infantry Division

Searby Edmund W.      Brigadier General, U.S. Army             Division Artillery

101st Airborne Division

McLaughlin Basil G.    Sergeant, U.S. Army                            401st Infantry Regiment

U.S. Army Air Forces

Flinn William II           First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces                555th Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium

 Hicks Wayne D.         Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces          555th Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium

Johnson Everett G.      Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces           555th Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium 

Grant Gordon R.          Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces          369th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy

Huhtala Robert J.         Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces         338th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group, Heavy

Hill Herbert H.             Technician Third Class, U.S. Army Air Forces    811th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron

Guerinot  Frederick J.   Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army Air Forces     196th Medical Dispensary

Women / Femmes

Johnston Helen            Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces           1400th Army Air Force Base Unit

Cunningham Jean H.   Civilian                                                American Red Cross

Guenther Dolores        Civilian, U.S. Army                             Civilian with the Armed Forces

Crowell Helen M.        Civilian                                                United States Civilian

Press

Burns John T.              Civilian                                                American War Correspondent

« Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God”                                                            

Part 2

Last May 28 2006, some citizen of Vesoul and the Rock of the Marne Association decorated some graves, consecutively to the Memorial Day by Children of France.

3rd Infantry Division

Tamburine Albert J.     Private, U.S. Army                               7th Infantry Regiment

Gilbert James J.           Private, U.S. Army                               7th Infantry Regiment

Katz Sidney                 Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army        7th Infantry Regiment

Tolbert Raymond W.   Private, U.S. Army                               7th Infantry Regiment

Castonguay Raymond J. Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                7th Infantry Regiment

Gottschalk Arthur H.   Private First Class, U.S. Army              7th Infantry Regiment

McElveen Joseph M.   First Lieutenant, U.S. Army                 7th Infantry Regiment

Silverstein Earl Private  First Class, U.S. Army                        15th Infantry Regiment

Rosenwasser Adolph S. First Lieutenant, U.S. Army               15th Infantry Regiment

Kefurt Gus J.               Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                   15th Infantry Regiment       Medal of Honor

Van Loy Alphonse A. Private, U.S. Army                               15th Infantry Regiment

Todd Jack A.               Private First Class, U.S. Army              30th Infantry Regiment

36th Infantry Division

Driggs Orval O.            Sergeant, U.S. Army                            142nd Infantry Regiment

Massey Gordon L.       Private First Class, U.S. Army              142nd Infantry Regiment

45th Infantry Division

Stern Truman C.          Private, U.S. Army                             157th Infantry Regiment

Jenkins John W.          Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                   157th Infantry Regiment

Rowlen John A.           Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                   179th Infantry Regiment

Krasoc Frank F.           Corporal,  U.S. Army                           179th Infantry Regiment

Rosino Dominic A.      Sergeant, U.S. Army                            180th Infantry Regiment

Choat Jessie B.            Sergeant, U.S. Army                            180th Infantry Regiment

Hatfield Roy E.            Private First Class, U.S. Army              180th Infantry Regiment

Trujillo Redolfo P.       Sergeant, U.S. Army                            180th Infantry Regiment

70th Infantry Division

Shaffer Clifford L.      Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                   275th Infantry Regiment

Spencer Lewis F.         Private, U.S. Army                               276th Infantry Regiment

101st Airborne Division

Janelle Laurence P.      Sergeant, U.S. Army                            501st Parachute Infantry Regt

U.S. Army Air Forces

Horst Harry C. Jr.        Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces         612nd Bomber Squadron, 401st Bomber Group, Heavy

Harbaugh Delbert O.    Private First Class, U.S. Army Air Force    10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group

Krowiak Casimir F. Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces        359th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group

Monasmith John V. Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Forces                325th Ferry Squadron, 27th Air Transport Group

And…

Daugirda Matthew A.   Sergeant, U.S. Army                                6638th Engineer Mine Clearing Company

McKnight Clifton C.    Technician Fifth Class, U.S. Army              3482nd Ordnance Automotive Maintenance Company

Ullman Paul                 Civilian, U.S. Army                                   United States Office of Strategic Services

Young Gaius W.          Civilian                                                      United Services Organization

"Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God” 
Eric D. Vandroux                                  Coordinator and Public Relation

Last May 16 2006 was a "special day" for Lauriane, Nathalie, Mailys, Jean-Baptiste, Catherine, Quentin, Céline, Madison, Kevin, Max, Clémence, Louise, Océane, Bastian, Mélissa, Alicia, Blandine, Alizée, Romane, Bosra, Jenny, Anthony, Luciane, Julie…. 30 French children from the schools of Lure and Mailleroncourt Charrette (East of France)… They are 9 and 10… And this day was their « Memorial Day by Children of France »…

This particular afternoon at the Epinal American  Cemetery was the wish of several men, representatives of cities, representatives of french patriotic associations from the East of France.... Some of them : Jean Claude Lachat, first deputy mayor of Saulx de Vesoul, Serge Lecinq and Mr Jean Besançon, president and past president of the "Souvenir Français" of the district of Lure, Eric Vandroux, member of the Rock of the Marne Association.... A team for the work for memory in Saulx de Vesoul and Lure and Vesoul’s areas... 

But these persons were not alone this day to guide these schoolboys and schoolgirls... There were too :

            c Mrs Michèle Didier and Mrs Angélique Sanchez, the teachers of these young children...

c Some parents of them...

c Mr Philippe Faivre, representative of the "Souvenir Français" of the district of Saulx de Vesoul,

c Mr François Bardot, 21 year old, flag holder of the Souvenir Français,

c Mr Jean-Claude Besse, president of the "Union National des Parachutistes" of the Haute-Saone Department and 2 flag holders of this association,

c Mr Jean-Marie Siret, member on good standing for life in the 180th Infantry association » of the 45^th Infantry Division., citizen of Frémifontaine (district of Brouvelieures, Vosges mountains), and co-coordinator of this event for the district of Brouvelieures (near Epinal),

c François Jeancolas, president of the "Souvenir Français" of the district of Brouvelieure,

c Mrs Bernardette Poirat, vice-president of the "Community of Cities of the district of Brouvelieures",

            c Mrs Radenne, municipal counsellor at Frémifontaine,

And our guide during this afternoon was Mr Jambois, French assistant at the Epinal American Cemetery.

 14 00 hours : the beginning of this visit !

At the museum, the organisers and Mr Jambois explained to the children the meaning of this cemetery. Then at the bottom of the large colored glass mosaic map depicting American and Allied military operations they explained to them World War Two, the liberation of France, then the liberation of our area by American troops...These little boys and girls were very interested, and questioned a lot about what they saw in this museum : the several symbols, allegories, the meaning of the US unit insignias, like this one, a  blue square with 3 white bars... A lot of questions....

Then the visit of the selected graves (enclosed the list by unit)…

Why these tombs ? In fact we wanted to honor the GI’s of the US Divisions who delivered our areas, our cities…The 3^rd, the 36^th and 45^th infantry divisions… As these divisions were in the Vosges mountains too, we wanted to work in this project with representatives of this area… And we included some graves of soldiers of the 442^nd Infantry Regiment, the famous Americano-Japanese soldiers… But we wanted to include others units who contributed to the victory…. Like pilots and crews of the US Air Force who died in our sky or on our land during all the war... Like the soldiers of the 70^th Infantry Division who began the war during Nordwind operation on December 1944 in north of Lorraine. A great division and great soldiers too... And of course we wanted to honor these 4 women who are in this cemetery… They also served in or for the US Army for our freedom… And we had to have a thought for each of them… 

Each time, near each selected grave, 3 French flag holders, the children..

Each time, one of these children laid a rose on this grave…

Each time, a thought for this American brave…

Each time we explained to these children the encrusted inquiries on the white marble cross…  

And Mr Jambois explained what he knew about some of them…  

But for some of them we had more information…

Of course about the  4 Medal of Honor recipients who lie in this American Cemetery :

Kandle Victor L.         First Lieutenant, U.S. Army            15th Infantry Regiment                         

Kefurt Gus J.             Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army                 15th Infantry Regiment                

Weicht Ellis R.            Sergeant, U.S. Army                        142nd Infantry Regiment

Kelly John D.              Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army        314th Infantry Regiment 

And we could speak about Tony Parise, Thomas Keating and Isaac Williamson of the 45^th Infantry Division who died in the Vosges Mountains… About each of them we could show to the children a picture of these soldiers, we could speak more about their war, sometimes a little about their life…What they did for our freedom… 

We could also speak about Private first class Earl Silverstein, 15 Infantry Regiment, thanks to his squad leader John Shirley : “He was always upbeat and optimistic. He smiled a lot, and was a very pleasant person to be with.”

We had a special thought to Earl Silverstein, not only because he was in the 15^th Infantry Regiment, this one who delivered Vesoul, my town… Not only because he passed away in my area… But because thanks to John Shirley, Earl Silverstein, now,  is no more unknown for us, citizens of some cities he delivered on September 1944… And because we know that he was a very nice person… 

These 30 children were so interested by all these inquiries about these soldiers who died for the liberation of their country… For them, now, World War Two is not 3 or 4 page in their history books in their school…There are now stories, anecdotes… There are faces….. Smiling faces… Faces of men who did history in their cities, in their area… A long time ago… Not only soldiers… they were men… 

These schoolgirls and schoolboys decorated 7 graves of soldiers of the 70^th Infantry Division… It was the wish of two veterans of this great division : Andy McMahon and Robert Hays… As John Shirley, veteran of the Third Infantry Division, these veterans visit each time they can these American Cemeteries at Epinal and Saint Avold… They can’t forget their comrades in arms… 

Then 16 30 hours… The ceremony of lowering of  flag…. Mr Jambois explained to the children the meaning of this ceremony, and invited them to help him to lower slowly and ceremoniously this great glory flag … They helped him to fold it… Impressive moment ! 

Just after, a meditation at the wall of the Court of Honor… For the memory of these 424 Missing in Action.  
Then Mr Robert T Cavaness, Superintendent of this cemetery, explained to the children the meaning of all the symbols of the Memorial, of the cemetery…He explained why the eagle on the Museum… And why the sheep on the Chapel…And why these encrusted sentences on the wall of the Memorial… Everybody, not only the children, was charmed by all these explanations…Mr Cavaness is a very good teacher… And thanks to him we have another view of this cemetery, another view about these soldiers, another view about the work for memory…  

During this afternoon, these 30 French children laid 60 roses on 37 American graves and at the bottom of the wall of the Court of Honor… Men and women… From Private to Brigadier General… From Infantry to Engineer Combat Battalion…From U.S. Air Force to Medical Department… From American Red Cross to the Press… And civilians… Now, this young boys and young girls know that the GI’s were not only fighters… Some of them built bridges, roads… Others took care of others…  There were a lot of jobs in this Army…But this afternoon was too short to decorate all the graves we whished…40 others roses were laid on others 34 tombs last may 28, in the morning of the Memorial Day at the Epinal American cemetery. I was helped by 2 citizens of Vesoul : Murielle, my sister and Francis, her boyfriend, who wanted to do something for these GI’s during this special day… 

These 100 roses laid on these 71 graves were offered by :

-          “Le Souvenir Français” association of the district of Lure,

-          Citizens of Vesoul,

-          Citizens of Saulx de Vesoul,

-          “Rock of the Marne” Association,

-          And by the family of Staff Sergeant René Deltieure, Third Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Regiment, Company Mike. 

These 30 children of Lure and Mailleroncourt Charette were very pleased to do this “Memorial Day”… They were very interested, and wanted to know  more about these GI’s…But the representatives of the Cities, of the associations who took part in this event were also very delighted to see by themselves how these children lived this event : a lot of interest, a great respect…This afternoon was so fine thanks to the help of Mr Robert Cavaness and Mr Jambois, who explained very well about his cemetery… A great thank to them… 

But next year there will be another “Memorial Day by Children of France”…Others children from the districts of Lure and Saulx de Vesoul will visit this cemetery…This project was presented to several mayors of Vosges Mountains and Alsace, and perhaps next year…..But our wish is to continue to honor these GI’s who died during the liberation of our cities…It is impossible for us to know their name, their unit… And to know a few or more about them…  And of course to get pictures of them…We need your help for that…We would like to know for Vesoul, Saulx de Vesoul, Noroy le Bourg, Vy les Lure… In fact from Besançon to the Col du Haut Jacques (Vosges Mountains)…If it is possible for you, thank you by advance… 

During this "Memorial Day by Children of France", I had a particular thought to Robert Hays, veteran of the 70th Infantry Division who passed away last January... A good friend...  Several time I was with him and his comrades of the 70th Infantry Division when they visited the Epinal and Saint Avold Cemeteries during their trips in France...I remember that it was important for him to visit his fallen comrades in arms...He wished that French children decorate the grave of some of them...This last may 16, these graves were decorated by these young French children... For him...For us... 

In our area, the work for memory will continue…God Bless America

Eric Vandroux

Coordinator and Public Relation
-         Associate member of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division, US Army
-         Associate member of the 15th Infantry Regiment Association, US Army
-         Associate member of the 36th Infantry Division Association, US Army
-        Associate member of the 70th Infantry Division Association, US Army

-             Member of the “Rock of the Marne” Association

-             Member of “Le Souvenir Français”, district of Vesoul