[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2299-E2300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
A TRIBUTE TO THE FLOWERS OF MEMORY
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HON. BARNEY FRANK
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I have for many years had
the benefit of learning from Jack Authelet, a journalist and the town
historian of the town of Foxborough--an important town in my district
known for a number of things, including being the home of our New
England Patriots.
Recently, Mr. Authelet wrote to me about a group that he accurately
describes as ``very appreciative and dedicated French citizens who have
. . . made a solemn vow'' that the Americans who gave their lives in
the defense of freedom in France will not be forgotten. The
organization of French citizens who have dedicated themselves to this
is Les Fleurs de la Memoire, or The Flowers of Memory.
Madam Speaker, what they have done and are doing is an inspirational
example of international cooperation, and I ask that the very
thoughtful and informative letter from Jack Authelet describing the
work that they do be printed here, along with the essay entitled ``A
Tribute,'' written by Claude Lavielle, who is president of Les Fleurs
de la Memoire. This essay was written for Memorial Day 2002.
Madam Speaker, Mr. Authelet asked that I do this on Veterans' Day,
but since we were not in session on that day, I have chosen the next
day in which it is possible to insert this into the Record as an
appropriate way of acknowledging their great work.
Foxborough Historical Commission,
Foxborough, MA.
Congressman Barney Frank,
Newton, MA.
Dear Barney, thank you for your dedication and leadership
role in resolving the fiscal crisis that grips this nation.
In the midst of all the uncertainty, I would like to call to
your attention a living tribute to the fallen of World War II
that I pray will move you to call for national recognition of
this unique volunteer effort on Veterans Day.
In the aftermath of World War II, some 15,000 American
military personnel who made the Supreme Sacrifice remain on
French soil in the Normandy and Brittany Cemeteries where
there families seldom--if ever--have an opportunity to visit
their graves.
We as a nation have honored the pledge we would never
forget their sacrifice in part by properly maintaining the
military cemeteries there and around the world.
There are some very appreciative and dedicated French
citizens who have also made a solemn vow: these brave
Americans will never be forgotten because they know that
every day they live in freedom, they become even more
indebted to those who lie buried in the countries they came
to liberate. They belong to the organization Les Fleurs de la
Memoire (The Flowers of Memory) and each volunteer is
assigned the grave of an American to decorate at every
opportunity and especially on the American Memorial Day. Many
volunteers adopt more than one grave, and also make every
attempt to locate family members of the deceased that they
might know someone is there looking over the grave of their
loved ones.
I became aware of The Flowers of Memory when Vincent
Robillard, the French volunteer assigned to the grave of
Airman Clinton Davison (Class of 1939, Foxborough High
School) was finally able to contact Clinton's brother, 93-
year-old Lewis Davison of Walpole, himself a World War II
veteran. I have been handling the correspondence for Lewis,
for whom contact with the French volunteers has brought the
comfort of knowing there are many who appreciate the family's
loss. Through Vincent, the family now has had many of its
questions answered about the death of Clinton, even to an eye
witness account of what happened that fateful day at the
height of the war when his plane failed to return following a
bombing run over Germany. I have attached a story I published
in The Foxboro Reporter about the French volunteers and what
this has meant to the Davison family.
The commitment by these French volunteers to honor those
brave Americans is both heartwarming and extraordinary.
However, most Americans don't even know the group exists.
I have provided background on The Flowers of Memory in
hopes that you would use your considerable influence by
taking the initiative to afford this group and its volunteers
some national exposure this Veterans' Day that the people of
America would know about this magnificent tribute being paid
every day to those who gave their lives when their Nation
called.
The attached information provides background on The Flowers
of Memory and their mission and I think it would bring
comfort to the American people to know that so many people in
France living in freedom today attribute that gift to those
whose graves they decorate as an outward symbol of an inner
vow that they will never be forgotten.
Thank you for your consideration and again, my personal
appreciation for your inspired leadership in a time of
crisis.
Jack Authelet,
Town Historian.
[[Page E2300]]
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[From fleursdelamemoire.free.fr]
A Tribute
(By Claude Lavielle)
Worse than death, is to be forgotten . . . So that this
never happens to those to whom we owe so much, the
association ``Les Fleurs de la Memoire'' (Flowers of
Remembrance), came to life. It happened on December 15, 2000,
in Saint Lo, a city which, after the June 6, 1944, bombing
raids, was called the Capital of Ruins.
Since that day, along with our members, we have paved the
way along memory's roads. These paths of memory lead to the
American military cemeteries where those, swept along by the
Star-Spangled banner, listening only to their courage, came
to offer their life, so that we could reclaim our freedom.
At the core of Les Fleurs de la Memoire, the 720 members,
put aside their differences, religious beliefs, and their
origins, share the same gratitude towards the GI's who repose
at Colleville-sur-Mer or Saint James.
Together, on Memorial Day or individually on any other day
of the year, we come to meditate, in silence, or in prayer.
Then, in an affectionate gesture, as would a godparent for
their godchild, allowing the heart to speak, we place flowers
at the base of the headstone.
It is not uncommon to see grandparents, at times moved to
tears, accompanied by their children and grandchildren moving
along the rows on the way to find ``the'' grave.
Once at the gravesite, their heads filled with images. . .
. All listen, all meditate.
Is it the sound of the breeze? . . . Rather, isn't it the
sound of the souls, the living memory of the dead speaking to
our subconscious? . . . Then the terrible sounds of combat
invade the mind . . . those unbearable sounds of bombs which
explode . . . the whining cry of diving planes . . . the
agonizing cries of the suffering. All the horrors of war
assault our memories.
Finding the spirit of those who died for that we may live
in a better world, kneeling in front of the headstone,
placing these flowers, is this not a profound appeal for
peace?
That is, I believe, what each person feels when coming to
execute their pledge towards our association, ``Les Fleurs de
la Memoire''. A humble pledge always accomplished with the
infallible faith and immense fraternity with those whom we
honor. It is true we have so much to say to you who sleep
forever in our Normandy soil. Yes, so many things, which
however must be resumed in one word: ``Merci.'' Yes, ``Thank
You. Always!''
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