European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Europe remembers american veterans of world War continued from inc cover eight Hundred and sixty on of these american friends Are buried nearby in the Rhone Ceme tiry the american military cemetery near drag Duignan in Southern France. Quot every year my pupils put Flowers on the Graves Quot the retired professor said. But the Frenchman himself a resistance fighter was far from Happy. Quot Flowers were not one Day he discussed his feelings Wilh Walter Warburton,.an american world War i Veteran living in a Raguinan. They realized that most family members would to visit their loved ones Graves. They decided the proper tribute would be to bring the relatives of two americans to France. For memorial Day that year 1%8, and pay All their expenses for two weeks. So they established be souvenir Franco american to show America that the citizens of a Raguinan Haven to forgotten. Leocard still remembers the arrival of the first paratroopers in the City in 1944. During the liberation he watched As these Friendly Soldier heroes removed mines from critical Road centers near a Raguinan. A they saved our lives a lie said. It 1948, As an act of reverence he spent the summer at the cemetery writing letters to american families to find out whose loved ones Waild return to the . Or would remain forever in France. It was the same spirit that led Loo card and Warburton to organize pc souvenir Franco Arneri Cain 20 year later. But getting it off the ground was not easy. That first year Cocard and Warburton paid for the trip out of their own pockets. It was a bad time to wave the stars and stripes in France. President Charles de Gaulle had ordered All . And nato troops Riff French soil setting off a wave of anti american sentiment. Leocard refused to climb on his country s nationalistic bandwagon a if our traditional Friend a. A a. A a a a a a. A fors amps regi Bossu Europe and particularly France is dotted with american cemeteries. Here a signpost near Bony France Points to the Somme cemetery. Ship is being destroyed by politicians at the top we. The Little people at the Bottom have no. Choice but to build it up again a he said. After that first year lie collected donations from the City and local merchants. Hotels in nearby Nice and Cannes Tum shed moms. Elsewhere French citizens opened up their Homes and hearts to the visiting americans. Since 1969, Albert Moeller vice National com Mandr of the american legion has picked the americans who will be honoured by the memorial Day trip to France the Westfield n.j., resident has been compared to the character on the late-1950s Clevi. Sion drama the millionaire. Each week the character would deliver a $1 million Check to a stranger on behalf of an Anonymous Benefactor. Over the years Moeller has sent mothers fathers wives sons daughters Brothers Sisters and Trust fund now assures that the tradition will continue although there arc fewer and fewer surviving family members to choose from. A a it a getting harder As the years go by a Moeller said. This year be souvenir Franco am Vicain will Honor Gloria Beer the widow of Robert Wear a Soldier with the 41st inf Reg 36th div who was killed during the attack of Mon Climar. Beer has remarried and will be accompanied by her Hus hand Elmer also a Veteran a a. A Leocard said the gift of giving is its own Reward shown in the grateful faces of those who come and leave with fond memories of France. He keeps a letter from former president Reagan in his collection of a thank Quot it takes very special people to put out so much Effort and financial assistance to provide Comfort and peace of mind for people who might never have the Means to travel abroad to visit and Pray for those fallen heroes a Reagan wrote. A this is an act of Charity few can match a locations of american cemeteries in Europe a amps Susan Harris Page 4 a sunday May 19. 1991
