The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #70326   Message #1199581
Posted By: GUEST,Laurent
03-Jun-04 - 03:49 PM
Thread Name: BS: D-Day commemoration
Subject: BS: D-Day commemoration
Hell, probably a guest once again.

3 days before the D-Days 60th commemoration, I would personnaly like, being French, say that we, French, are deeply in dept with the lads, may they be Americans, English, Canadians, Polish or even French - I met one of them - or whatever contries they may belong, who gave their youth and often their life for our freedom.

It does not matter if US and Brittish governments main goals might have been to stop communist advance in Europe. I'm quite certain most of soldiers ignored it.

I still have a thought for young German's soldiers who gave their life on the wrong side of the war. I met some veterans in Germany and I can't figure them as butchers, only lads who thought they only did their duty. BTW, my first girlfriend was German.

I still believe that war is a terrible mess on both sides, even if I was ready to serve in Tchad when I was a conscript.

I think it's time now to bury any hatchet, except with extremists, wherever they may come from.

So, even if the Americans, Brittish, all others countries inhabitants and French are proudly keeping on misunderstanding each others friendly (?), we still have to thank each and every lad who landed on our beaches in Normandy. (I leave in Le Havre, a town almost totally destroyed by the Bomber Command).

So, I would like you to know that French people are not so anti-American you can be told, even if some Americans behaviour might irritate us. I remember a youngster when I was at school who commanded to be served, just because he went from the USA and we were only clodhoppers. Well I have to confess that I'm often ashamed to be French in England,I never went to the USA, but I'm not sure to be welcomed.

In conclusion,we all have to remember the sacrifice of so many young men.