Thank you Steve
All Americans who have the chance should visit the graves at Normandy,
or any one of the American graveyards in seventeen countries around the
world. We cannot forget their sacrifice.
On 6/6/2019 8:15 AM, Steven T. Corneliussen wrote:
> Thanks, Mr. Dixon (himself a Marine, there being no such thing as an ex-Marine) for recalling the men from Bedford.
> Your ending, about a Normandy cemetery and never forgetting, calls to mind today's Correspondent of the Day in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. I hope I may report excerpts from that Bedford-themed letter by retired Army Colonel Joseph R. Toler of Richmond, who shows that the French never forget either:
> - - -
> We hoped to find the grave site of [my wife's] uncle, who gave his life at Omaha Beach. ... Seeking help, we entered the visitor’s center. Immediately, from the young lady behind the desk, we heard, "May I help you?"
> “Yes”, I replied. “My wife’s uncle is buried somewhere here, we think. His name is John Schenk.” Without hesitation or checking her computer, she replied, "Yes, he is. Would you like visit his grave?"
> I was taken aback by the quickness of her response, thinking that she might have misheard me. I added, "He was from Bedford County, Virginia."
> "Yes, I know. When French teenagers come here on a field trip, I take them to his grave. I did that yesterday."
> I was speechless. Then she handed me a copy of the book "The Bedford Boys."
> She took us directly to his gravesite. She handed us each an American and a French flag.
> "Would you like to place them at his stone?" she asked. We did and spread some sand from Omaha Beach at the base, took pictures and offered a prayer to the heroic young uncle we never got to know. As we were blotting our eyes, she offers to us the flags and said, "Take these with you back to Virginia."
> https://www.richmond.com/opinion/your-opinion/letters-to-the-editor/cod-june-french-still-remember-u-s-d-day-sacrifices/article_f6f758f5-acad-5988-8e72-bf365448a6c8.html
>
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--
Richard E. Dixon
"The Virginia Presidents: A Travel and History Guide"
571-748-7660
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