大象传媒

This story has been written on the 大象传媒 People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Celia Bean on behalf of Cyril Hart. The story has been added to the site with his permission, and Cyril Hart fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

Part 3 of 3

MONDAY. 7th. JUNE

The following morning we got up early, packed and bade goodbye to the Becks and the old gent who had come to see us off. Madame presented me with a small book giving the history of the Manoir Saint Pierre and would take no money for the splendid meal she provided on our arrival. We left saying we hoped to return one day. Tom had never been to Saint Mere Eglise, made famous by the American paratrooper whose parachute had got entangled in the clock tower, forcing him to hang there feigning death while his comrades drove the Germans out of the town. On our way we stopped at a camp of the 鈥淧hantom Army鈥� just to see how they managed. After that we went to another real army camp where an interesting experiment in reconciliation was taking place. A group of French Bakers had contacted a group of German Bakers and they had all come to Normandy to bake bread together just to show it was possible to work and live in harmony. It was, in effect, a symbolic Communion of Remembrance, sharing a meal of bread in the manner of the Last Supper. It seemed a splendid idea to us so we went into the camp and entered the bakers鈥� tent. There was no more bread. They had run out of flour and were waiting for a lorry load to arrive! There was nothing for it but to continue our journey to Saint Mere Eglise where we took a look at the Church Tower with its manikin hanging by a parachute. After a coffee in a quiet caf茅 off the main street, where almost every other shop was selling surplus American Army uniforms, we set out for Roscoff, managing to catch the ferry with minutes to spare.

Thus ended our Commemoration on French soil.

The 60th. Anniversary has been declared as the last parade in honour of those who gave their lives that we might live in peace, but we all know that 鈥淭hey shall grow not old as we that are left grow old.鈥� They will remain an example to generations to come of the futility of war and the continuing need to work for that precious peace in the hearts of men 鈥渨hich passeth all understanding.鈥�

Cyril Hart

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