Les Fleurs de la Memoire, a Memorial Day story.

[ColbertWatcher]

(...)

High on a bluff above Omaha Beach, the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer is a place of stunning beauty and tranquillity. Rising from thick, manicured grass, rows of white crosses and Stars of David face westward, toward America.

It's hard to imagine that 64 years ago, war raged here. But there are the 10,000 graves to prove it.

Among them is the uncle of a North Carolina NPR listener, Jennie Malcolm. Walter Malcolm was killed near here, two month after D-Day. Last summer, while investigating her uncle's death, Jennie Malcolm came across the French volunteer organization Les Fleurs de la Memoire, or Flowers of Memory.

Malcolm said she mustered up her best French and asked if flowers could be placed on her uncle's grave. Two months later she received a photo of his grave in the mail.



(more at the link)

--NPR

==============================================
LINKS:
* Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, France

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_day#History">Wikip*dia's history of Memorial Day

* Link to pictures on DayLife.com, search key words "Memorial+Day"

(EDITED TO ADD)
* http://fleursdelamemoire.free.fr">Les Fleurs de la Memoire

[The River]

1. My Namesake is Buried There

My Dad's brother.
One of these days I'd like to go visit.

Thanks for the reminder.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Don't forget, wbe if you can't visit ...

... there are people over there tending to the graves.

I found a link to their site, which is in French http://fleursdelamemoire.free.fr/

I'm going to have to add that to the OP.

[Aristus]

3. The people who like to say: ""Em dang Frinch jes' ain't grateful fer all we done fer 'em"

have never been to Normandy. Everywhere you go, you see reminders of France's gratitude to all of the American, British and Canadian soldiers who fought alongside the Free French Forces to liberate their country. Vive le France!

[ColbertWatcher]

4. I fully expect to hear a few, loud, ignorant fools spouting their yearly lie.

And someone on FOX egging them on.

[sarge43]

6. May I join you? Merci amis.

Our honored dead are in good hands.

[Aristus]

9. Hi, sarge!

Happy Memorial Day! :patriot::hug:

[sarge43]

10. Hey Aristus

Belated Happy back atcha.

How's your dad?

[Aristus]

11. Um...

He died two weeks ago. We decorated his gravesite yesterday. There were about five flags and two bouquets of flowers. Thanks for asking. He would have liked you. :-)

[sarge43]

12. Next time leave a flower for me. Thanks

From what you've said about him, I liked him.

RIP, :patriot:

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Morning kick. n/t

[Historic NY]

7. American Battle Monuments also offers services..

http://www.abmc.gov/services/index.php

I have some Belgium connections that also offer personal services.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Very cool. Thank you! n/t