Day 1: Cantigny

Our first full day in France began with an overcast morning and a cool breeze. Here is Madame Soucaze, and English teacher at our partner school who is hosting Madame at her home for the two weeks we will spend in Montdidier. Admire the beautiful view of the countryside in Picardie right next to her home:

After a brief breakfast and reception with the principal of our partner high school, Lycée Jean Racine, the students went to the town of Cantigny with Madame Robillard, Ms. Worster, and our cooperating teacher, Madame Dangreville, who teaches History at our partner school. 

Cantigny is important because of a battle that was fought there 95 years ago TODAY, which was the first battle of World War I in which Americans soldiers officially fought. Worthy of note: The 1st Infantry DIvision of the US Army, also known as "The Big Red One", fought heroically and defeated the Germans who had occupied the village of Cantigny. 

So, Cantigny was both their first battle and their first victory. May 28th is a very important day here, one the villagers commemorate every year, but we missed the celebration this year because the "Big Red One" just finished their tour in Afghanistan and asked the village to commemorate this battle a few days early (last Thursday) so the active members of the division could pay hommage in Cantigny on their way back from the war in Afghanistan. Of course, the village agreed.

The monument to American soldiers who died in the Battle of Cantigny, May 28, 1918

Caroline and Kiel at the battlefield at Cantigny

The Westmoore students with their teachers at the roadside along the fields
where the Battle of Cantigny was fought.

But we weren't disappointed, because we had a great learning experience, starting with a stop just outside Cantigny at the official monument for the Americans who died in the Battle of Cantigny, which overlooks the battlefield where there once were trenches and minefields.

(L to R) Monsieur Lefever, Katie, Michaela, Allison, Caroline, Kiel, and Riley at the World War I museum/collection created and maintained by Monsieur Lefever

Monument to the Big Red One, 1st Infantry Division of the US Army, in Cantigny

Allison, Carly, and Katie in the van on the way to meet Monsieur Lefever in Cantigny

Who is Monsieur Lefever? He is a wonderful human artifact of the village of Cantigny where he grew up. At the age of 20, when he was 2 weeks short of his release from serving his mandatory military service in the French army, World War II broke out. He was sent to the front along the Maginot line, he fought and survived through the 10 days of the forced retreat as far back as Dijon, and then his officers surrendered to the Germans and surrendered him and his fellow soldiers over to the Germans. He served five years in a German work camp before the American Army liberated him and countless others in 1945. Today he is 96 years old and he finds great joy in honoring the soldiers of World War I (whom he considers true heroes) and telling his own stories of fighting the Nazis and surviving as a prisoner of war (which he considers his duty to the nation). The students met him and explored his collection of artifacts.

Kiel and Madame with Monsieur Lefever

Madame Worster with Monsieur Lefever

Such a great living artifact!

One of the exhibits in Monsieur Lefever's private museum

 The Westmoore students gathered at the official monument honoring the sacrifice of American soldiers in Battle of Cantigny and the great victory they won. This monument is maintained by the American Battlefield Commission and it sits on ground given by France to the United States in perpetuity for this purpose.

Upon our return to the the high school, we ate lunch in the school cafeteria (except for a few students who went with their school partners off campus). Then we went to classes and Madame even got to teach two hours of English to the same students who came to Westmoore last year: Mathilde, Eren, Lucas, Matthieu, Laurine, Chloé, Hélène, Alexandre, Adrien, Kevin, Gabriel, Charles, et al.

All in all, despite some travel fatigue, we had a great day and learned a lot!