France

Well this Saturday we decided we wanted to go to another country.  So Saturday afternoon we drove to France.  It is just under an hour to the border.  We went to the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in St Avold France.  It was sprinkling to start with and then as we were finishing up it poured down rain.  At least we were able to walk most of the time with little to no rain.  Here is my history lesson for today.  :-) 

 

The Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in France covers 113.5 acres and contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II in Europe, a total of 10,489. Their headstones are arranged in nine plots in a generally elliptical design extending over the beautiful rolling terrain of eastern Lorraine and culminating in a prominent overlook feature. Most of the dead here were killed while driving the German forces from the fortress city of Metz, France toward the Siegfried Line and the Rhine River. Initially, there were over 16,000 Americans interred in the St. Avold region in France, mostly from the U.S. Seventh Army's Infantry and Armored Divisions and its cavalry groups. St. Avold served as a vital communications center for the vast network of enemy defenses guarding the western border of the Third Reich.

The memorial, which stands on a plateau to the west of the burial area, contains ceramic operations maps with narratives and service flags. High on its exterior front wall is the large figure of St. Nabor, the martyred Roman soldier overlooking the silent host. On each side of the memorial, and parallel to its front, stretch the Tablets of the Missing on which are inscribed 444 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The entire area is framed in woodland.

It was very peaceful and amazing to think about all those men and women who gave their lives for their country and really the world. It gives new perspective on how many families and lives are touched when it comes to wars.  It spreads out way too far and wide.  I took many pictures to try and capture how big it was, but I still don't think I do it justice. 

 

The back side of the chapel

 

Our first look at the graves

Trying to get the expanse

the boys wanted to read some of the names

David taking some time walking and thinking

 

More expanse

AJ checking out some of the graves

 

One of the four medal of honor winners buried here

 

The over look

 

The view from the overlook-you can see the chapel in the back left

 

David reading the plaque to the boys

Above the entrance is a tall figure of St Nabor extending his blessing upon those resting here and commemorated on the Walls of the Missing that flank the tower

 

The 2nd medal of honor winner (we only found two)

 

Five sculptured figures on the west wall personify the eternal struggle for freedom.  King David, Emperor Constantine, King Arthur and George Washington reinforce the youthful figure in the center

 

Maps of the glazed ceramic portray military operations in Western Europe and also the fighting in the region of St Avold

 

 

David explaining what the maps are

 

Walls of the Missing extend north and south of the memorial.  They display the name, rank, organization and state of 444 men of the US Army and Army Air Forces

 

After our trip to the cemetery we went to a store call Cora.  It is like Frances version of Walmart.  It was pretty neat.  We tried some pastries and ice cream.  And then of course we had to buy some wine, beer, more pastries and some cheese.  They had a full bar in there also, it was pretty cool.  We then came home and picked up one of AJ's friends and went to a super hero evening on post.  They all dressed up and they had a bounce castle, hot dogs and a good time!!!  The boys really enjoyed themselves!! 

 

 

The adults even dressed up. 

 

Into the bounce castle they go

                                  AJ getting ready because Captain America was in there too!!!

 

AJ and Cedric having a good time

 

The three boys all dressed up.