80th Anniversary of the Second Landing

NO, WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

August 15, 1944

80^th Anniversary

On two separate occasions, 2009 and 2014, I traveled with eight octogenarians through the French countryside where they, as WWII veterans, were honored and recognized for their gift of liberation in a manner they, themselves, would never have thought possible.  “How could this be?” you ask.  The U.S. nation as a whole has rarely acknowledged their valiant participation in yet another D-Day.  And friends and family members, who didn’t accompany them, would never have understood the meaning and significance of this most incredible tribute!

But, on August 15, 2024, and in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Southern (D-Day) landings on the Côte d’Azur, and from three of the beaches—Pampelonne near St. Tropez, La Croix Valmer and Cavalaire-sur-Mer where some of these historic landings took place—our men, members of the 3^rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army (Rock of the Marne) will be remembered by thousands of French men, women and children. The first ceremony of the day will begin at dawn with military contingents in full dress uniform where a laying of wreaths takes place on the seaside war memorials along the Côte d’Azur. Speeches follow from the mayors and General Counsel alike, and the veterans in absentia will once again be honored.

Then one coastal village—Cavalaire-sur-Mer or St. Tropez—will open its arms to thousands who have come to honor those who gave their lives for this unforgettable “liberation.” Stages will be set; bleachers will be placed facing the Côte d’Azur, military bands will play, choruses sing, speeches will again be given, and acknowledgements will be made for those brave men who had come to fight all those years before. The U.S. National Anthem, along with the anthems from the other Allied countries, including the New Zealanders, and the Aussies, will be played. Then, the Marseillaise, the French national anthem will be sung, as people rise in the bleachers with a flurry of flags surrounding them. Then, the festivities will truly begin with parades, bands, and tables laden with traditional foods and wine set out for all those who come to celebrate this historic event. Even the crystalline blue of the skies will be lit up as jets fly over and fireworks are displayed. It’s a true festival!

During the years I traveled with the veterans and their families, on the 16^th of August, their tour continued north, along the original trek of the 1944 liberation, stopping at one village after another (thirty-three in all). We followed  the Rhone River, then crossed over through the French Alps, the Vosges Mountains and ended our tour in Strasbourg.  Once again, and at every stop, our veterans were met with the pomp of full military accord: color guards, military bands, veterans of the 1st French Army, the prestigious Lafayette Escadrille Flying Corp. and members of the French parliament were there to honor them. In addition, the wizened old former French Résistance, Partisans and Maquis members, who fought beside them, also received their ‘heroes’ due.  Always, wreaths were laid by our men at every war memorial, and this was followed by the speeches from each village’s mayors, vice mayors, and Counsel Generals.

I will always remember the words given to our veterans: “You came to a foreign country to bring liberation to us.  It is because of your efforts and the lives of your fellow soldiers that we were liberated!  We will never forget the gift of freedom you have given us.  We thank you for your sacrifice and the sacrifice of your fellow soldiers!  We will never forget.”  Our veterans stood tall and accepted their praise but even after all of those years, their quiet response was: “We were never heroes. We were just doing our duty.” Again, no matter the size of the village, parades, festivals, commemorative ceremonies, receptions, and luncheons followed.

But, it was probably the letters written and read by the children of Saulx de Vesoul, which touched the veterans most deeply:  “We will never forget,” they read as their small, clear voices reached forth.  “We will never forget how you brought liberty to our beautiful country.”  In the background, church bells began ringing as the children concluded their readings:  “Thank you for the sacrifice of your lives. Through the ‘duty of memory’, we will never forget.”

Yes, from every French man and woman we met, that was the echoing refrain: “We will continue the memory of your deeds with our children and our children’s children. We will tell them about how you, not much older than children yourselves, came to a foreign land in 1944 to save us from tyranny.  No, we will never forget!”