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France 1918-2008: Remembering the American Offensive in World War I Page Three The Eleventh Hour Finale It was with tears in my eyes that I continued on my journey of exploration. Today the landscape is verdant and alive with wheat and grapevines. Ninety years ago it was a desolate moonscape of charred trees, the air choking with the rotting stench of death. Serge's words echoed in my mind as the monuments to the battles and the cemeteries of the dead blurred in their multitude. Millions of lives were lost in this War To End All Wars. As the 90th Anniversary Commemorations build to the Eleventh Hour finale, I think of our comrades-in-arms, and the deep ties of the American and French people whose soldiers fought side-by-side from 1776 onward to preserve the freedoms we all enjoy today. "God Bless America!" indeed, and "Viva La France!" Background on the American Offensive in Northern France in WW I Although the United States did not officially enter the war until April 6th, 1917, there were in fact Americans in the Meuse much earlier. Volunteer American ambulance corps helped transport the wounded in 1915. A year later America’s famous Lafayette Squadron could be seen in the skies above Verdun. But it wasn’t until June 1st, 1917, when 20,000 men of the 1st Infantry Division landed in St. Nazaire that America was officially in the war. By the end of the following month they were in position at Gondrecourt-le-Chateau in the southeast of the Meuse.
At the time the whole American army consisted of only 200,000 poorly equipped soldiers, so the French had to provide cannons, machine guns, rifles and munitions as well as the necessary training. After the US Conscription Law was passed these numbers increased to 77,000 by the beginning of November, and within five months, to 335,000. The Meuse was actually the first battle for the US Army on foreign soil. The arrival of American troops provided necessary relief for the war-weary French soldiers and precipitated the end of the War. Besides helping to liberate France, the Americans also contributed greatly to the reconstruction effort in the Meuse. Many town halls, hospitals, schools and water towers were rebuilt with the financial aid of American individuals and institutions. They stand today as a testament to the generosity of the American people and the close ties both countries enjoy. There are more than 80 memorials commemorating the WW I American presence in Meuse. The American Cemetery of Saint Mihiel (Thiaucourt, Meurthe-et-Moselle) has 4,153 graves. At Romagne-sous-Montfaucon in the Argonne, the 130 acre cemetery is the largest burial site from both World Wars in Europe with 14,246 graves. Impressive Memorials have been built by the Americans at Montsec and Montfaucon d'Argonne. The States of Pennsylvania and Missouri, plus many institutions and individual regiments built monuments at Argonne, Nantillois and other places.
Several statues, steles and obelisks pay tribute to the vital role played by the US forces in the Meuse 90 years ago.
Information and Links Meuse Tourism Office Reims Tourism Office
La Marne Tourism Office Lodging Château des Monthairons Hôtel Cosmos Hôtel de Guise
Hôtel de la Cathédrale Hostellerie du Coq Hardi Hôtel du Cheval Rouge Hôtel Restaurant Le Tulipier Best Western Hôtel de la Paix Furthermore Information of vineyards, wine and champagne tastings, churches, restaurants, shopping and the many other places of interest are all available at the above tourism websites.
Commemorative Events The commemorations highlight the part played by the Americans in ending World War I. "LIBERATION DU SAILLANT DE SAINT-MIHIEL" (Liberation of the Saint-Mihiel Salient) reenactment on September 13 in the Montsec district.
CONCERTS DURING THE SUMMER on the theme of "La musique Americaine en 1918" (American music in 1918) OPEN-AIR SCREENING in July and August: "Les Americains et la Grande Guerre" (The Americans and the Great War)(Saillant de Saint-Mihiel, Verdun, and Argonne) EXHIBITION ABOUT THE AMERICAN OFFENSIVE IN THE MEUSE from October 2008 to the end of 2009, Verdun
ILLUMINATION of the road from Saint-Mihiel to Montfaucon, SYMBOLISING THE JOURNEY OF AMERICAN TROOPS from the Saint-Mihiel Salient to Argonne, on September 20 SALON DU LIVRE D'HISTOIRE (exhibition of the history-book) in Verdun, from 9 -11 November 2008 COMMEMORATION ON NOVEMBER 11: The bells of the Meuse will chime and the names of the US soldiers buried at Romagne sous Montfaucon will be read out. The above events are free. (This provisional program is subject to change) In the Marne County, walking commemorative tours are planned all year long. Contact tourisme-meuse.com for further information about these and other WW I commemorative events.
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