Too quickly our time here has come to a close. Our final day has been as full of memorable experiences as every other day here, but there was an appropriate air of sadness. Indeed, we began our day with a trip to the Somme American Cemetery in Bony.We were able to visit the grounds; first with a French guide and then later on our own. It was a very moving experience to walk among the graves of the soldiers. 
We identified all nine graves and took pictures of them for our Oklahoma Soldier's Project (soon to be posted here). We also visit the ecumenical chapel at the cemetery and found the name of one Oklahoma soldier on the Wall of the Missing, which we also photgraphed. Before leaving, we said a prayer together and had a moment of silence for the soldiers.
Then, we went on a driving tour of the battlefields, cemeteries (German, South African, Canadian, British, Australian, and New Zealander), and monuments of the region. We stopped for a picnic lunch near a German cemetery and then had a quick cup of coffee at a special cafe called "Cafe Tommy". This cafe is special because it honors soldiers of the British Commonwealth who fought in World War I. We met several British soldiers in their 70's who were carousing there and the girls had a great time hearing their stories. None of them fought in France, but they were salty characters who had many great stories to tell.
We proceeded on our way then to the Historial de Peronne, a museum dedicated to the comparative history of World War I through the eyes of the French, the Germans, and the British. We saw many interesting and moving artifacts there. The girls got to learn a lesson with a British guide that helped to target their appreciation of World War I.
Once we returned to Montdidier and everyoine had a chance to dress up, we met back at the high school for a pot luck "Farewell" dance. The girls did some line dancing (very popular here in France) and then we watched a slideshow of pictures from our stay here. There was lots of laughter and tears as well. We are sad to leave this community of friends and we look forward to receiving the French in our own community in the Fall.
We identified all nine graves and took pictures of them for our Oklahoma Soldier's Project (soon to be posted here). We also visit the ecumenical chapel at the cemetery and found the name of one Oklahoma soldier on the Wall of the Missing, which we also photgraphed. Before leaving, we said a prayer together and had a moment of silence for the soldiers.Then, we went on a driving tour of the battlefields, cemeteries (German, South African, Canadian, British, Australian, and New Zealander), and monuments of the region. We stopped for a picnic lunch near a German cemetery and then had a quick cup of coffee at a special cafe called "Cafe Tommy". This cafe is special because it honors soldiers of the British Commonwealth who fought in World War I. We met several British soldiers in their 70's who were carousing there and the girls had a great time hearing their stories. None of them fought in France, but they were salty characters who had many great stories to tell.
We proceeded on our way then to the Historial de Peronne, a museum dedicated to the comparative history of World War I through the eyes of the French, the Germans, and the British. We saw many interesting and moving artifacts there. The girls got to learn a lesson with a British guide that helped to target their appreciation of World War I.
Once we returned to Montdidier and everyoine had a chance to dress up, we met back at the high school for a pot luck "Farewell" dance. The girls did some line dancing (very popular here in France) and then we watched a slideshow of pictures from our stay here. There was lots of laughter and tears as well. We are sad to leave this community of friends and we look forward to receiving the French in our own community in the Fall.
This is Jessie.
ReplyDeleteWhile we were at the cemetery, after I had found the soldiers I adopted (Joe R. West who was an Oklahoman and then Henry Sierzycki, who was a cook from Texas) I went to look for all the other Oklahoma soldiers. It made me feel very official to be carrying around a notebook, making note of the locations of the graves and the last names of the Oklahoma soldiers that we had already found so that we wouldn't miscount and think we had found all 10 when we hadn't. It took us a while, but we did find all the soldiers through careful searching and we took pictures of each cross.
Everyone was dancing at the party, even me, and I usually don't. However, I also took pictures (on Cate's camera, as unfortunately I didn't have mine with me) and learned how to play pool. The line dances were especially fun. But when Pierre Remi put the slideshow on, everyone stopped dancing and gathered around, watching the pictures and laughing at some of them, and then somehow Pierre Remi and Melissa started crying, so then Alison started crying, and she went to Jeanne, who began crying, so I started, and soon all of our friends were crying and hugging and saying that we would come back and would see each other soon, whether it be in October when the French go to Oklahoma or next summer or some unknown time.
For the rest of the night, we kept dancing and singing, but the smallest things could make us cry...I didn't think that sort of attachment could grow in just a week, and it did, and I am so looking forward to seeing my friends again.