To France:  Happy Bastille Day!

Bonjour, this is David again, Sherry's husband.  Today the nation of France celebrates it's "Independence Day", Bastille Day, commemorating the birth of the first French Republic in 1789.

Following are my continued thoughts from my guest post on July 4 regarding the intertwined relationship between the United States and France.

Replica of the Statue of Liberty flame.

Replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Statue of Liberty, was a gift from the people of France and was dedicated in 1886.  It was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and was build by Gustave Eiffel, yes, that Gustave Eiffel.  There is a quarter sized replica of the Statue of Liberty on the Ile aux Cygnes (Island of Swans) in the Seine river.  The statue is not too far from the shopping mall (pretty much like an American shopping mall) where Sherry and I bought much of what we needed to furnish our apartment.  Also near Avenue President Wilson (see other comments below) is a full size replica of the flame from the Statue of Liberty.  Today, it has become a place where many people come to remember Princess Diana with flowers, cards and photos, as it is near the tunnel where she died.

Suresses American Cemetery 

World War I began in 1914 and ended in 1918, American entered the war in 1917.  This year is the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI.  In America on November 11 we celebrate Veteran's Day.  In Europe it is called Armistice Day, celebrating the armistice ending WWI, which occurred at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  It will be quite a celebration in France this year!  Over the last few years I have read more about WWI.  The war was more devastating to France than to Germany.  The war was primarily fought in France and Belgium, with very little fighting in Germany.  More French land was devastated, and France lost more people, military and civilian, than Germany.  The Suresses American Cemetery, just a few miles outside of Paris, is the final resting place of 1,565 Americans who died in WWI, plus 24 unknown soldiers from WWII, but also listed in stone are the names of 974 Americans whose bodies were never recovered.  Our home town of Kansas City, Missouri, is the host of the "official" WWI museum in the United States.  I was there a few years ago, it was quite interesting and I would encourage you to visit if you get a chance.

Avenue President Wilson

President Woodrow Wilson was the president during WWI and provided worldwide leadership after the war with his work on the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, which unfortunately failed.  Every Saturday and Wednesday, we go to the street market on Avenue President Wilson to buy cheese, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and flowers.  At first this was more of a dreaded chore until we were able to develop a rhythm to this kind of market shopping.  Now, I look forward to going as we frequent the same vendors every week and they recognize us and welcome us with more than a "bonjour".

Omaha Beach - site of D Day landings 

One of the many signs throughout Paris honoring those who fought in the Resistance.  This one near our apartment.


World War II began in Europe on September 1, 1939.  During the next seven months it was called the "Phoney War" as nothing much transpired.  But then....and by the summer of 1940 much of Europe, including the city of Paris, was engulfed by Nazi Germany.  In 2015, Sherry and I took a day trip to Bayeux for a half day tour of the D-Day beaches and battle grounds.  AMAZING!  It is because of the actions those men took those fateful days and months that we can travel and live in Europe today.  May 8 is celebrated as VE Day (Victory in Europe).  When I say celebrated, I mean celebrated, as it is a national holiday in France.  In America, it comes and goes with an article in the newspaper.  As we have walked around Paris, we are constantly reminded by plaques on the walls of many buildings remembering those who died as they fought to redeem France from tyranny.  The official WWII museum in the United States is in New Orleans.  There is a Pacific War (where both Sherry's and my Dad served) museum in Fredericksburg, Texas.  Both are well worth seeing.

Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Roosevelt was America's president during all but the last month of the war in Europe.  He is remembered and honored with street and Metro (Paris subway) stations named after him.

Avenue Du President Kennedy - the avenue named for President Kennedy is in the 16th Arrondissement in Paris, not far from the Statue of Liberty replica. For those of our generation, the question that binds us together is "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?".  As we have gotten to know other couples of our generation but from other countries over these last four months, the same question binds us together, regardless of our nationality.

Arc de TriompheJoyeux Anniversaire France!

America as enjoyed relative stability over the last 240 plus years.  Over basically the same period of time, France has experienced a somewhat tumultuous life.  Today France is governed under its Fifth Republic, which will celebrate 60 years in October.  I read a book a few years ago written by former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Tony Blair.  In his book he said the way to tell a good country from a bad country is “are people trying to get in or trying to get out”.  While there are occasional bumps in the road in the relationship between America and France, another thing that binds them together is that people are trying to get into both great countries.