Final Cemetery visit on our trip

This morning we left Basel, Switzerland for Epinal American Cemetery about 2 hours north in France. I really like Switzerland in general, though it appears to be an expensive place to live. Today was our fourth and final Cemetery visit on this trip and my day to deliver the eulogy for Harvey Madore.

This is the view as you enter the Cemetery grounds. There is the walkway and the Memorial with map room and Chapel. The graves are behind the Memorial.

On the left of the Memorial is this relief of World War Two era soldiers.

On the right of the Memorial is this relief with God-like images and a fallen soldier being cradled by a nurse next to graves.

Our tour of the Cemetery was led by Virginie Benoît

This is the other guide at the Cemetery

On the back of the Memorial is this inscription

The trees that line the grassy area and the walkways in the Cemetery

I have three colleagues on this trip who delivered moving and sensational eulogies today! Then it was my turn. I found myself feeling a little emotional as I approached Harvey Madore's grave. I have spent the last 9 months getting to know Harvey and looking forward to this moment. Even though he is not my family, I felt like he was family after getting to know him as well as his son and grandson. I couldn't help but think that I just wanted to get it right. I started with the sand from Omaha Beach and rubbed into the lettering on his grave. One of my colleague snapped a photo of this.

I even have video of this process!!

Next came the planting of the flags. The American flag always goes on the left, and the French flag on the right. I then attached the microphone and waited for the Professional Camera crew to prepare. In addition to that professional video (which will be available in December), one of my colleagues also recorded me on my phone. Below is the eulogy I delivered. Keep in mind an edited and professional version of this will be published later.

After my eulogy, I was honored to have my photo take with Harvey's grave.

I have had the special pleasure to read 4 eulogies at graves of Fallen Heroes on this trip. Each one is a special memory, and each one has meaning for different reasons. I am very excited to share these experiences with my students and continue to tell the stories of the Fallen and recognize their sacrifice. After the eulogies we continued our tour of the Cemetery.

Some of the graves are decorated by visiting families, like the one below.

Below is from inside the Chapel

Below is from inside the map room. It depicts the movements of troops in Northeastern France and just across the German border.

Harvey was in the 63rd Division

Below is from inside the visitor's center

Above, the Interpretive Guides tell us a story of one of soldiers in the Cemetery. Below is a video clip form them.

It was sad when it was time to leave. Sad knowing we had to say goodbye, and sad because it was our last Cemetery visit on the trip. I've learned so much about the war, about sacrifice, and about how to help students begin to understand sacrifice!

We left the Cemetery and drove about 2 hours north to Metz. The big highlight in Metz is the Cathedral, so I took a little walk to check it out. Its beautiful!

It was another great day on this European road trip! After completing our eulogies, it feels like we are ready to come home. There was a lot of emotion today, but also a lot of excitement about bringing this back to our students. Tomorrow we have a special treat of going to a World War Two Museum in Bastogne that has a great reputation. Then a final day in Brussels before flying back to the US on Friday. Now for a Patisserie!!