The Normandy American Cemetery

By Ashlee Ciccone and Renee Carfagno

Visiting the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial was an emotional and empowering experience to say the least. It was interesting to find out that the American government, and tax payers, pay to maintain the grounds on all American cemeteries. The Italian marble crosses or Stars of David that represent lost soldiers, or those that represent unknown soldiers were lined up in such a way that no matter which direction you were looking, a perfect line can be seen (similar to Brittany and Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium). Something that was particularly striking was the fact that all of the unknown soldiers were buried with crosses, and none with Stars of David. Is it possible that some of the unknown soldiers were Jewish?

Grave Sites at the American Cemetery in Normandy

Each Stockton student received an American flag to place at the grave of their choice. A photo was taken of some, which will be used for a future project. It was also interesting to find out that only three African American soldiers are buried there, two males, and one female. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. is also buried there, his cross decorated with gold lettering to represent his award of the Medal of Honor, and his brother is buried next to him. We also found out that American film, Saving Private Ryan is loosely based on the lives of the real Niland brothers, two of whom are buried next to each other at the cemetery.

At the end of the day, we reflected after the flag lowering ceremony. I think it is safe to say, we all felt proud to be American at that moment, despite the troubled times were are having politically at home.

Who said you can never go home again? Dinner with locals in Caen, France

By Michael Hayse

For me our stay in Normandy was not only about the history of the war; it was also a personal return. On the Tuesday evening when we arrived in Normandy, we were joined by several guests who mean a lot to me. My travels abroad, and thus my interest in European history, languages, and culture really began when I was a 16-year-old high school exchange student in Normandy. It was a sister city exchange between my home town of Lexington, Kentucky and Deauville, France, a city in Normandy jus a short distance up the English Channel from our study tour hotel in Caen. From the very beginning, as Gail Rosenthal and I began to organize the study tour, I was determined to see my old host family again. It has been 39 years since I lived with the Rollet family while attending the lycée (high school) in Deauville. I had last paid them a visit in 1982, when I was a college student studying in Berlin, Germany – 35 years ago!

It was therefore a great pleasure that my former host parents, Monique and Lucien (“Lulu”) and my host sister, Catherine were able to join us. Catherine’s partner Reynaud and their 13-year-old daughter Lucie accompanied them. My former host brother, Pascal, could not join us because he is now a professor of French in Wisconsin, and my other host sister, Caroline, lives too far from Caen. Monique stressed that she is still my mère française (French mother), and Lucie, whom I was meeting for the first time, played us some tunes on the piano. Sharing this wonderful reunion with my study tour “family” made the evening doubly meaningful for me.

Memorial De Caen Museum

By Richard Pisani

American Garden at the Memorial De Caen Museum

We had a wonderful experience today at the Memorial De Caen Museum. The museum was very interesting and informative. The museum had several artifacts from both wars and even a piece of the Berlin Wall. There were several different galleries and even a movie about Normandy. Thanks to the Memorial De Caen Museum, we all have a better understanding of both World War I and World War II and a better understanding of the battle that occurred at Normandy Beach. Thank you so much.

Jewish Star Exhibit in the Memorial De Caen Museum

Honfleur

By Morgan McKenna

This afternoon we made a stop at Honfleur, a small fishing village in France. As you approach the center of town, you're greeted by a harbor which was first built for the purpose of commerce. Today it is more a "local's dock," but there is local trade just by the water's edge. The "U" shaped harbor is surrounded by restaurants and shops. Our purpose for this stop was to grab some lunch and do some exploring. Some of us dined on French cuisine while others grabbed a quick crepe before they ventured off. The village offers the traditional souvenirs but is also well known for its artisan finds. You'll find these special stores hidden up alley ways, around windy turns, and even in plain sight. There is also Carré des Arts which is an Arts Square that has a number of unique shops. Unfortunately we arrived in Honfleur just as the locals were getting ready for lunch. We found that a majority of the stores closed for a couple hours at midday but that didn't stop us from exploring to find the few stops that remained open.

Don and Mike Stand at the Port in Honfluer

A fun fact we learned on the bus was that Erik Satie, the French composer and pianist, was born in Honfleur. He was known for his impact on surrealism among other art movements and was also very eccentric. He was often seen wearing a bright purple jacket and walking his pet lobster through the streets of Paris. His home in Honfleur is now a museum dedicated to him and his career.

I would like to end this post by offering some advice for happy traveling. I've been extremely fortunate to have traveled to Europe a few times during my college career. While traveling overseas brings so much joy, knowledge, experience, and overall wonderful stories and memories, it can also bring a sense of isolation if you aren't well versed in the language and culture. While experiencing this feeling, I found ways to positively approach it.

About a year ago I studied abroad in Galway, Ireland which is very much like Honfleur. It's small, located on the coast, and well known for its fishing/seafood. I chose Galway because it reminded me of my hometown and I knew it would present me with a sense of familiarity. As we entered Honfleur, I saw the same familiarity of Galway and I knew this place would be special.

I felt comfortable with the overall feel of Honfleur, but at the same time, I was hesitant in that I speak no French and know very little about French culture. And though I knew a lot about Irish culture before I went away, I realized I felt very uncomfortable being the outsider. I didn't want to offend anyone and I didn't want to do anything that would label me as even more of a tourist than I already was. However I realize that traveling to new places means that you must push through these fears, turn them into a game if you will. Use the three French words that you know to speak with the shop owner. Show that you want to try and it'll be appreciated. You might end the conversation knowing more about the local culture and hidden spots, maybe even gaining a friend as well. When given a menu that looks as though it were written in extreme secret code, order the food you're unsure of. It might not be your favorite but you'll at least get a good story. It might even end up being the most amazing meal you've had. My point being that when uncomfortable in a new place, whether that be France or even a neighboring town where you live, try. Approach the situation with a welcoming attitude and you'll be rewarded. Finding comfort means leaving your comfort zone. The more you try, the easier it'll be to relax and actually feel at home in a new place.

Amiens Cathedral

By Christina Delcher

While driving into Amiens on Monday night, it was quite obvious that the most striking feature of the city was the Amiens Cathedral sitting right in front of our hotel. Early Tuesday morning, before our departure to Honfleur, a group of us went to this beautiful cathedral. With a combination of information from Dr. Hayse, as well as study tour participant and art teacher Concetta Stoto, everyone got a sense of the history and Gothic architecture of the building. We even participated in an interactive activity in order to get a better understanding of the structure. We all left the cathedral understanding it as a beautiful work of art.

 Standing by the Amiens Cathedral

This Roman Catholic church is the largest Gothic cathedral in France and is approximately 200,000 cubic meters. Dr. Hayse explained that the original structure was built during the Medieval Period between 1240 and 1270, but part of the building was destroyed during World War I and eventually reconstructed. It was visually captivating inside of the cathedral. From the structures and paintings to the stained-glass windows, it was truly remarkable. All of the study tour participants and assistants who went to see the cathedral today are surely able to point out a piece of Gothic architecture for the rest of our lives!

The Somme Overview and Reactions

By Karen Diemer

One hundred years after World War I (1914-1918), the effects of the Battle of the Somme can still be seen in the landscape. As our coach drove through the beautiful French countryside of Arras we could soon see how it remains scarred by the large holes left from the munitions fired during the Battle of the Somme. All along the roadside are warning signs of possible unexploded artillery shells, serving as both a warning and a reminder of how war permanently alters our world. We first visited the preserved battle field of Vimy Ridge which is along the Western Front of World War I. This was a battle between the Canadian Corps and the German Army where the Canadians captured the ridge, an important strategical advance in the war. This massive memorial was created to commemorate Canadian soldiers who died in France and who have no known grave. This monument sits on 250 acres of preserved land and it is stationed with Canadian students offering historical background. It is truly stunning.

Vimy Ridge Memorial

Our next stop was the Beaumont-Hamel Trenches. Soldiers dug trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire and large mortar attacks. These trenches were winding and complicated networks where men spent most of the war. They were higher in the back and wound through the land on angles, this was so that an enemy could not open fire and shoot a whole "row" of men. Instead there were corners and blind spots. As we walked through a series of trenches it was like being beneath the surface, and one could see how the army on the defense could have the advantage in trench warfare.

The Trenches of Beaumont-Hamel

The Lochnagar Crater is an enormous hole created by eight miles of tunnels using mine warfare. The enormity of the crater shows the violence of war and the loss of human life. At 7:28 am on July 1st, 1916 in La Boisselle, near Albert, twenty-seven tons of high explosives were detonated in two chambers in the mines killing more than six thousand men (Lochnagarcrater.com).

We came to the bottom of the valley into a new country. It was a desert of broken chalk ditches, holes, craters, mounds, and ridges, dry and overgrown weeks and all interlaced with rusty strands of wire. There was not a house nor even a ruined wall left standing there might be a spike of brickwork where the church had been or not even that, merely mounds of rubble an discolored soil, the only landmark was a high rim of white chalk some one hundred fifty yards in diameter like the crater of a volcano. It began to dawn on me that this was La Boiselle, our objective. (Lt. Charles Carrington 1916)

The Lochnager Crater

In just the last year, one hundred and twenty soldiers' bodies were found in the area. Great care is taken in identifying and honoring the soldiers. Five Bavarian soldiers were recently discovered under The Old Blighty Tea Room in La Boisselle. Another, English soldier, Sgt. Blakey, was also found and identified when the road was widened. Sgt. Blakey left an infant son who fought in World War II who is still among the missing from that war.

Dotted between these historic sites are homes and farms and the field where the Red Baron crashed on April 21,1918.

Canadian National Vimy Memorial

By Christina Delcher

*Pictures of the Vimy Memorial in France

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a historic site that pays tribute to all of the Canadians who risked or gave their lives during World War I.  The memorial stands on a hill on Vimy Ridge. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a part of the greater Battle of Arras. The battle was fought by the Canadian Corps against the German Sixth Army. The Ridge became a major part of the German defense system. On April 9, 1917, the Canadian Corps stormed the Ridge and the next day captured the territory. Although over 10,000 lost their lives, this Battle was a major win for the Canadian Corps during World War I. There are over 11,000 names inscribed on the memorial that commemorate Canadians who were missing and presumed dead in France. During our visit, there was construction at the site because the 100th anniversary ceremony is on April 9th of this year and they are planning a ceremony. Right next to the memorial is a small memorial for the Algerians and Moroccans who fought in a battle in 1915. The memorial is built into a landscape that still bears the scars of the fighting in this stretch of the Western Front; the ground is churned up from the shells that exploded and the trenches that were dug over a century ago.