Les Anciens combattants

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It was a rare privilege indeed to have been present at this. Both Pen and I felt the love and respect the villagers poured out during this short but very poignant ceremony.

Read all about it here

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Nice article Nick, thanks

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Hope Eternal Reigns's picture

I like the coziness of the central square of your village. Of course you know your article will destroy your village, now everyone and their dogs will want to move there.

with love,

Hope

Once in a while I bare my soul, more often my soles bear me.

Thanks, Hope

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That's possible ...

... but just think what it will do for property prices :)

N

The cost of freedom

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I'm not French, but I have to say I was incensed the other day when someone on G+ was casting aspersions on the French and the way they surrendered during World War II.

Were it not for the French, their resistance and their sacrifices, the Germans would probably have come out on top.

N

Thanks, Nick.

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Your village looks delightful and typically French. We've both cycled and driven through many similar ones over the years. Did this happen on May 1st rather than November 11th? I know there are many sad anniversaries in France from both world wars. Those who criticise the French for succumbing to the overwhelming odds of the German advance should visit the Vercours plateau near Grenoble and see how the allies betrayed the resistance as late as 1944 - possibly for unavoidable reasons but betrayed never the less.

3 of my uncles fought in WW1 but only two returned. I don't think our family was unique and may even be considered lucky. My father, the baby of the family, was much too young for WW1 and too disabled for WW2. We visited my uncle's grave a few years ago in a beautifully kept small cemetary in a Norman village much like yours.

After, the UK, France is my favourite country without a doubt.

Robi

Robyn

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It actually happened today. We have seen one other similar for VE day, but I think this one was personal to our village. I was only able to ask one person and she wasn't overly full in her description of what was happening. So I basically only got the gist, which I hope came across in the article.

Thanks for your response.

N

Le Tombeau De Couperin

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Here's a link to Ravel's breathtakingly beautiful 'Le Tombeau de Couperin', dedicated to the friends he lost during the First World War.

http://youtu.be/Wkt8T38aaMw

As long as there exists this kind of monument to the fallen, no one will ever forget them.

Ban nothing. Question everything.

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