June 27, 2014

Ridge Spring News

70^th ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY—My father (Joe Cal Watson) and I (Mary Watson Edmonds) recently returned from a 10-day trip to France.  The trip was dedicated to the veterans of the World War II liberation of Europe who served between D-Day (June 6, 1944) and the end of the war in Europe (May 8, 1945).  Mrs. Jeanne Palyok of Columbia and her family raised funds for the trip, and Daddy, as a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, was invited to go at no cost to him!  Twenty-two veterans participated in the trip.  Each veteran had a guardian, and I was Daddy’s.  We toured sites in the Normandy region of France associated with D-Day.  On D-Day, more than 160,000 Allied troops (mostly American, British, and Canadian) landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy.  By the end of the day, more than 9,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded, but the Allies had gained a foothold on the European continent, allowing the Allies to advance to Germany.  (The movie, The Longest Day, is a great way to learn about D-Day.)

Daddy and I both agreed that the trip was an experience of a lifetime.  The veterans themselves were a wonderful part of the trip.  We were able to hear stories of their experiences during the war while visiting the sites where many of the stories took place.  For example, at Omaha Beach, one veteran told us that he knew things were going to be tough when his pocket with his mess kit was shot off soon after he landed on the beach.  (Some 5,000 Americans were wounded, killed, or missing in action at Omaha Beach.)  At Utah Beach, another veteran described his experiences as a medic ferrying wounded and dead soldiers back to England. 

Another highlight of the trip was the way the veterans were embraced as heroes.  The

D-Day 70^th Anniversary was a huge event in Normandy and people came from

Belgium, England, Holland, and other European countries.  Many homes and

businesses flew American, English, Canadian, and French flags. I think I saw more

American flags in Normandy than I see here on the Fourth of July.  Everywhere we went

the veterans attracted a crowd.  The local people and tourists made evident their appreciation for the American soldiers’ liberating them from the Nazis.  I felt like I was

traveling with a movie star.  Old people, young people, and children came up to thank

Daddy, ask questions about his experiences, get his autograph, kiss him on the cheek,

and take his picture.  I was especially touched when one man thanked him and said, “I

was born in 1947, and because of you I was born free.”

One of the most moving experiences of the trip was attending a ceremony to

commemorate the liberation by American soldiers of the tiny village of Picauville.

Daddy and the other veterans were honored guests and sat on the front row.  The

keynote speaker was Gen. Phillip Breedlove, the four-star general who is the supreme

commander of all NATO forces in Europe.  Then the children of Picauville released red,

white, and blue balloons. Each balloon had the name of an American soldier who had

died during the liberation of the village.  There must have been close to a hundred

balloons. One of the most inspiring moments was at the end of the ceremony when a

German Army band played the “Star Spangled Banner” and the veterans began singing

the words.  After the ceremony, people were eager to meet and thank the veterans.

One older French lady had made some paintings and needlework pictures for the

American veterans.  She asked Daddy—with the help of a lady who spoke English—to

choose one.  He chose a picture she had painted of a “poissonnerie,” a fish shop, with

cats walking up to the door.  He plans to display the painting, along with her photo at the

Nut House.

On June 6, we attended the 70^th Anniversary of D-Day ceremony at the American

Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.  More than 12,000 people attended the impressive and inspiring ceremony.  Again the veterans were treated as dignitaries.  We arrived early and waited in a white hospitality tent where we were given refreshments.  Numerous members of Congress came to speak to the veterans.  Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia told Daddy that he was going to come by the Nut House.  When we left to go to the plaza for the ceremony, an active duty American soldier escorted each veteran to the stage where the American and French presidents would sit.  Daddy met a soldier with the last name of Tolen from Batesburg.  Both French President Hollande and President Obama made excellent speeches.  They recognized how the sacrifices American soldiers made for people they didn’t even know changed the course of history.  After the ceremony, President Hollande and President Obama shook each veteran’s hand, including Daddy’s.  (Later, another veteran said that Obama’s hand was skinny and that he needs to “put some meat on his bones.”)  There are 9,387 American soldiers buried at the cemetery.  There is also a wall with the names of 1,557 soldiers whose remains were never found.  Daddy reminded me that Guy Fallow of Ridge Spring was killed in the invasion, but he is buried in Ridge Spring.  The parents could choose to have their sons brought home.

I would have to write a book to describe all of our interesting experiences, the many kind people we met, and the delicious food we ate.  Our travels included a day in Paris where we went up in the Eiffel Tower and took a dinner cruise on the Seine.  I will end, however, with another experience in Normandy that Daddy and I will never forget.  We visited the village of Sainte Mere Eglise where the 82^nd  and 101^st American paratroopers landed on D-Day.  Many of them lost their lives in liberating the town.  The parachute of one paratrooper, John Steele, was caught on the church steeple and he hung limply and “played dead” for two hours during the fighting.  He was captured by the Germans, but escaped and rejoined his division.  A model of the paratrooper hangs on the steeple today.  On our visit to Sainte Mere Eglise, we attended a dinner for the “Amis des Veterans Americains” (Friends of American Veterans).  There were over 1,000 people at the dinner.  From the welcome given to the veterans, you would have thought the war happened five years ago.  Daddy kept saying, “I can’t believe they are doing all this for us after 70 years.” 

U.S. Airways treated the veterans like royalty both leaving Charlotte and returning.

When we flew back into Charlotte, for example, the pilot announced that most of the

airline employees were standing on the tarmac with flags.  We had a police escort on

the way back to Columbia and fire departments had raised tremendous flags on some

of the overpasses. When our bus returned to our final destination at Northeast

Presbyterian Church, we were greeted by a large crowd. Daddy and I were happy to

see Marie and Donnie Asbill, who had come out to help greet us.

Daddy and I are grateful to Jeanne Palyok, the wonderful lady who--with the help of her

family---sponsored this tour. She worked in graves registration at the American Cemetery after World War II. There she recognized firsthand the enormous sacrifice made by American soldiers to liberate Europe.  This trip was her gift to World War II veterans.  I was personally proud and honored to have had the opportunity to accompany Daddy and other members of the Greatest Generation on this memorable trip.