By Carole J. Bumpus
The few remaining WWII veterans of the U.S.
Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (Rock of the Marne) are sleeping in their own
beds tonight, their whirlwind anniversary tours du France a dim but savored
memory. None were able to return this
year for the 75th anniversary, but they can rest assured that they were
celebrated all the same—whether in body or spirit—at the anniversary of the Southern
Landing on the French Beaches (or Second D-Day) each August 15th.
As this Veteran’s Day approaches, I’m wondering what these elderly
men will dare to dream? Will these Octogenarians
and Nonagenarians dream of the few brief days
they were celebrated as heroes in the south of France? Certainly, the friends
and family members, who didn’t accompany them on these tours, will never
understand. The U.S. nation rarely
grasps their valiant participation—in yet another D-Day. Will time separate
them from the richness of French gratitude extended during their illustrious eleven-day
tours? If our veterans could hold on to only
a few of the words delivered by French dignitaries and the hundreds (literally
thousands) of men, women and children who came forth to honor them, lo these
seventy-five years, then maybe their dreams each night have been sweeter.
Every year, on August 15th, the anniversary of
the infamous Southern Landing on French beaches (or the Second D-Day) begins on
three beaches of the Côte d’Azur—Pampelonne near St. Tropez, at La Croix Valmer
and Cavalaire-sur-Mer. In years past, our
men, despite being crippled by old age, stood tall and participated in all commemorative
events. They laid wreaths on the
memorials of their fallen comrades, participated in parades, and were honored
and celebrated with receptions, speeches, dinners, and fireworks displays. Thousands were in attendance to cheer them
on.
The following days of their ten-day trip found our veterans
continuing north—along their original liberation tour—stopping at each of the villages
(twenty-five in all) along the Rhone River, through the French Alps, the Vosges
Mountains, into the infamous Colmar Pocket and ending in Strasbourg. The journey
ended each year in a regal reception given for them in a former palace in
Strasbourg, or at Chateau Thierry outside of Paris. Throughout the trip, the pomp of full
military accord with color guards, military bands, veterans of the 1st French
Army, the French Air Force and members of the French parliament along with
wizened Partisans and former F.F.I. members met these ‘reluctant heroes’ to
make certain they received their just due.
Through parades, festivals, commemorative ceremonies, including
receiving the French Medal of Honor, plus during receptions, luncheons,
speeches from mayors, vice mayors, Counselor Generals, even the President of
France, the messages could be heard.
But, one of the clearest messages came from the hundreds of villagers
who lent their cheers and their tears to the soldiers who had freed them.
The veterans themselves stood tall and accepted their
praise, but still after all these years, their quiet response was: “We were
just doing our duty.” Especially while
standing before the sea of white crosses stretched across the fields of the
American Cemeteries, such as Draguignon, Épinal and the American Lorraine
cemeteries, their voices remained silent; their tears gave way to their
heart-felt grief and sadness. Comrades
lost; dreams unrealized.
But, it was probably the letters written for the veterans and
read by the children of Saulx de Vesoul and Bennwihr, which touched the men most
deeply: “We will never forget,” they
read as their small, but clear voices reached forth, rising above the church
bells which began to ring. “We will
never forget how you brought liberty to our beautiful country.” “We will never forget that you saved us from
the grip of tyranny and freed us.”
“Because of your sacrifice, peace is now our second religion.” “Thank you for the sacrifice of your lives.” Throughout the readings, the church bells
continued to chime, ringing the bells of Freedom and Thanksgiving.
Yes, that was always the echoing refrain: “We will continue
the memory of your deeds of liberation with our children and our children’s
children,” the French told our men. “We
will remind them of the sacrifices you made for us,” the mayors of each city
invoked. “We will tell them how you, not
much older than children yourselves, came to a foreign land to liberate
us. No, we will never forget!”
Sleep well, our ‘reluctant heroes’, for you have made our
world safer and there are those who will never forget your sacrifice. Yes, the second D-Day for the U.S. may not be
well known, but in France you, as veterans, and your deeds will never be
forgotten.
Happy
Veterans Day to our own beloved veterans
Happy Veterans Day to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry
Division (Rock of the Marne) Snap Herplex Hub
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