European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday june 6,�?T1994 the stars and stripes Page 11old enemies make new peace by Mark Kinkade Normandy Burea american Veteran Jack Boardman left of Chicago and German Veteran Peter Brack of Cologne walk Arm in Arm saturday at the German War cemetery in la Cambe France. La Cambe France a in the Middle of War Bill Falvey saw peace. Falvey sighed deeply As he recalled three hours in 1944 when the guns of the German 6th Parachute regt fell silent Long enough for his 90th inf div to pull its wounded men out of driers. A these men let us save our people a Falvey said while standing with German War veterans sunday morning at the German cemetery in la Cambe. A a it a hard to hate Falvey of Niles mich., and other members of the 90th inf div veterans association were at the cemetery to Greet the men they fought against 50 years ago. Following a ceremony Eulogi zing the German fallen the 225 americans and 90 germans boarded buses for another ceremony at Utah Beach where the 90th came ashore on a Day. The German veterans were part of a tour sponsored by the German War Graves commission. The German government however has not been invited to official ceremonies in Normandy. In the cemetery the veterans faced each other across a Stone path while an american delegation Laid a Wreath at a Large Grassy Mound dedicated to the germans. When the ceremony ended the two groups merged into one Large hugging mob As they greeted each other. Americans and germans broke off into pairs and walked beside the Small grave markers while they talked. Fifty years is a Long time to hate said Howard Stother who As a Captain on a Day led his men against some of the same germans he met sunday. A it was a War and it was a Long time ago a Stother said. A today Isnit about hate. Its about peace and Friendship a Ray Prejean was 19 when he came ashore june 6, 1944, under a barrage of German mortars and bullets. He saw his friends die in front of him he said. But the native of Baton Rouge la., was Able to forgive sunday. A a you be got to forget after 50 years a Prejean said. A what Are Yak Gonna do a hate Mem for and peace. A we have made our peace we soldiers a said Karl gerhards of Cologne. Gerhards was a 20-year-old private when he shot at americans on Utah Beach in 1944. Fritz Bern was 21 when he manned a German machine gun As the americans pushed off Utah Beach and into the towns nearby. He shot at them then because he was a Soldier he said. Now he wants peace because they Are All soldiers. A no More War a said Bein of Hannover. A they Are honorable Good men a Good soldiers. Now we must be the spirit of reconciliation carried Over to the beef Side ceremony. While the americans sat in a place of Honor in the Middle of a Large Rotunda of bleachers on the dunes above the Beach the germans sat quietly in a Section of empty scats nearby. Gen. Gordon r. Sullivan the . Army chief of staff was preparing to March with other army officers in front of the american veterans when an aide leaned Over and whispered to the general. After the aide left Sullivan turned toward the German veterans and snapped a Salute. The germans nodded Back almost in unison. The silent Exchange was something Between soldiers. In the european theater during world War ii living or dead could be placed on the Wall. A the Wall would be located in Normandy. A anyone wanting a name on the Wall would file a $40 registration fee. A the . Government does not pay for monuments Quot Stover said. A we have to raise Money for it. Forty dollars does t just pay for the name. It pays for part of the Stover said some 70,000 names already have been registered. A we know some people can to afford it but that Sok a tie said. A some people have donated $50 or $60 per name so that helps Quot other organizations have donated Money so those who can to afford the registration fee can still get their names on the Wall. Quot names Are subject to verification of service before placement Tut the i wait a a he said. J service members j be during the War Stover said. Of that number Quot 10,000 Are women and 2 million Are dead a he said a a we a like to have All names a amps Jotin Bohr nor George Stover organizer of the Wall of Liberty Points to a plaque honouring new Jersey citizen soldiers at the Caen memorial museum. Vict Union West of the ural Moun ii will be placed on the Wall. Contains. By Craig Martin Normandy Bureau Caen France a a Battle of Normandy foundation official has denied press reports that the american organization is misusing Money donated to place names on a Wall of Liberty to be constructed Here. On saturday George Stover organizer of the Wall dismissed As untrue allegations that claimed the foundation was misusing donated Money by sending him and other members of the foundation on trips to Normandy and other Battle Sites. A air France provides us free space available airfare from the United states a he told the stars and stripes on saturday at the Caen memorial. The memorial is a Center for Battle of Normandy research with a War museum and exhibitions related to War and peace. The Wall of Liberty is designed to Honor the sacrifices of those men and women who liberated Europe from nazi tyranny Stover said. He said the european theater of operations includes Europe Africa the Middle East West of India the Mediterranean Region and the former so the Wall will be located to the right of the Entrance of the Caen memorial Stover said. It will be about 7 feet High and will contain panels bearing lists of names. For a $40 registration fee the name of a person who served in the european theater during world War Striction is scheduled to begin sometime after the a Day ceremonies today Stover said. The Wall is scheduled to be completed by May 1995. Names can still be added to it after that Date he said. Stover said three guidelines were set up for the Wall a the All people serving a Ever a the German veterans also talked of Friendship organizer defends drive for Wii Wall of names about 5 million served in euro
