Dayum.
Hat Tip Pajamas Media.
“2,500 people gathered on Omaha Beach in Normandy to form a human chain of gratitude and honor the fallen American heroes who liberated France during World War II” (Embassy of France in the US)
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In the spirit of its mission statement, “The French Will Never Forget” (www.thefrenchwillneverforget.com), organized an extraordinary gathering of approximately 2500 people in Omaha Beach, Normandy for July 4 th 2007. The crowd formed on the sand the letters of the phrase: “FRANCE WILL NEVER FORGET”, aimed at honoring the fallen American heroes who scarified their lives to liberate France at the end of WW II.
The United States Ambassador to France, H.E Craig R. Stapleton and his spouse attended the event along with several American and French personalities. They all joined the crowd on the beach and actually helped form with many other people the letter F of FRANCE.
“Our goal is, once again, to demonstrate the deep respect and gratitude of the people of France, for their recovered freedom thanks to America’s extreme sacrifices during the Second World War and which no one can, or will ever forget.” declared the co-founders of the organization.The site of Omaha Beach was chosen not only for its history, but also because of its symbolism. The beach is located nearby the main American cemetery where thousands of American soldiers who died in this war have been laid to rest.
Prior to the event, there was a ceremony at the cemetery of Omaha Beach with the US Ambassador to lay a flower reef and honor the memories of the heroes fallen there. Numerous representatives of local and national organizations, as well as French and American veterans were in attendance. Arnold FRANCO, famous US veteran who participated to the liberation of the Eiffel tower flew from the United States with his three grandchildren to attend the whole event.
The whole event was filmed and photographed from two helicopters and just released to major television and newspaper media in the United States, France, and other countries (in 2003, over 125 US and French TV channels reported on this organization honoring with a rose each of the 60 522 graves of all US soldiers fallen in France) .
I will be damned. Good for them.
Thanks France.
More pictures over at Gateway Pundit.
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