Trees inscribed by U.S. soldiers felled in France

[nittanyalum]

This really pisses me off: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4124354.ece

Officials fell trees inscribed by US soldiers who fought for France
Historic ‘name trees’ bore thousands of carvings

The names “Thomas and Dorothy” were carved in the bark of one trunk. Another said “Bob and Carma”. Other trees were marked with soldiers’ home states - Iowa, Maine or Alabama - and several bore hearts and the names or initials of a wife or girlfriend.

The beech trees of Saint Pierre de Varengeville-Duclair forest bore a poignant testimony to the D-Day landings for more than six decades. Thousands of American soldiers stationed there after the liberation of Normandy spent their spare hours with a knife or bayonet creating a lasting reminder of their presence.

Although the trees grew and the graffiti swelled and twisted, this most peculiar memory of one of the 20th century’s defining moments remained visible - until now. Amid bureaucratic indifference and a dispute between officials and the forest owner, most of the trees have been felled, chopped up and turned into paper. ... (more at link above)

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

This really pisses me off: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4124354.ece

Officials fell trees inscribed by US soldiers who fought for France
Historic ‘name trees’ bore thousands of carvings

The names “Thomas and Dorothy” were carved in the bark of one trunk. Another said “Bob and Carma”. Other trees were marked with soldiers’ home states - Iowa, Maine or Alabama - and several bore hearts and the names or initials of a wife or girlfriend.

The beech trees of Saint Pierre de Varengeville-Duclair forest bore a poignant testimony to the D-Day landings for more than six decades. Thousands of American soldiers stationed there after the liberation of Normandy spent their spare hours with a knife or bayonet creating a lasting reminder of their presence.

Although the trees grew and the graffiti swelled and twisted, this most peculiar memory of one of the 20th century’s defining moments remained visible - until now. Amid bureaucratic indifference and a dispute between officials and the forest owner, most of the trees have been felled, chopped up and turned into paper. ... (more at link above)

I agree, this is sad. And I read the comments as well.
Some local PTB just did not think.
And we do it as well. Right here. Right now.
We are losing every day parts of our own history right here.
So it seems to be rather hard to throw just too many stone over there.

And as I posted elsewhere a while ago, my Uncle's unit was 2nd wave Ohama. Long story short-he made thought the war as a FAO. Was put up for a Silver Star, received the Bronze. Several years ago, he found himself at his units grave site. He fell apart, like in SPR. As he recovered, several Frenchmen and women came up to him and said: Thank you. We remember them as well.

[Thetagirl218]

This deeply saddens me. I have grown up knowing about my grandfather's service in the Air Corp during WW2. Some days he talks about the war, other days the memories are too strong. He flew over Normandy on D Day as part of bombing missions. When I asked him if he saw anything from in the air, he paused and would not go on with the story. I consider him a hero! He and the rest of his crew received the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission so brave that it almost sounds like it came out of Hollywood.

My grandfather and the others that served are heroes, no amount of medals needs to quantify it. For France to have such blatant disregard for those trees is appalling. They should have saved them for future generations to see!

[Leslie Anne]

That really is very sad. There are still trees remaining though. I was glad to read in the article that many French were upset about it as well and were determined to keep those that still exist.

I read some of the comments posted after the article. The ones that were anti-France saddened me too. It's not as if the entire country decided the fate of those trees. We are still allies and I hope we will remain so for many years to come.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

That really is very sad. There are still trees remaining though. I was glad to read in the article that many French were upset about it as well and were determined to keep those that still exist.

I read some of the comments posted after the article. The ones that were anti-France saddened me too. It's not as if the entire country decided the fate of those trees. We are still allies and I hope we will remain so.

Yeah I hope so to, but what i think is interesting, the FR and the US never went to war. We fought Spain, Germany, Britain, Italy, but never the French Republic/France.

And yeah, it sucks trees were taken down, but don't local governments screw up on that kind of stuff all the time. I mean, seriously both the US and France are great countries but need a wake up call if the thing that causes such an outroar is that someone cut down the wrong trees. What if you/we lived in a country where you could be arrested for walking with only two people at night or where reporters and news anchors "disappear" for dissenting. Think about it.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Yeah I hope so to, but what i think is interesting, the FR and the US never went to war. We fought Spain, Germany, Britain, Italy, but never the French Republic/France.

And yeah, it sucks trees were taken down, but don't local governments screw up on that kind of stuff all the time. I mean, seriously both the US and France are great countries but need a wake up call if the thing that causes such an outroar is that someone cut down the wrong trees. What if you/we lived in a country where you could be arrested for walking with only two people at night or where reporters and news anchors "disappear" for dissenting. Think about it.

Uh, no, we never fought France, but we sent a whole lotta boys over there to fight on their behalf. They'd be speaking German right now in Paris if the U.S. hadn't gone over and defended France in 1917 AND 1944. So while I understand the guy took the cheaper option of cutting the trees down rather than pruning them, which is what he was asked to do, someone should have stepped up and said hey, let's at least find a way to preserve the bark. Or as one of the commenters said, at least take thorough digital pictures to preserve every carving and put them on the web or the WWII museum, etc.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Uh, no, we never fought France, but we sent a whole lotta boys over there to fight on their behalf. They'd be speaking German right now in Paris if the U.S. hadn't gone over and defended France in 1917 AND 1944. So while I understand the guy took the cheaper option of cutting the trees down rather than pruning them, which is what he was asked to do, someone should have stepped up and said hey, let's at least find a way to preserve the bark. Or as one of the commenters said, at least take thorough digital pictures to preserve every carving and put them on the web or the WWII museum, etc.

well yeah, i wish they would have not been cut down too,

the thing about not war w/ FR was just something I noticed...

But still, it doesn't seem like they knew what the trees were until after the fact.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

So while I understand the guy took the cheaper option of cutting the trees down rather than pruning them, which is what he was asked to do, someone should have stepped up and said hey, let's at least find a way to preserve the bark. Or as one of the commenters said, at least take thorough digital pictures to preserve every carving and put them on the web or the WWII museum, etc.

I was trying to look on the bright side but you're right. If the guy had made just a single plea to Americans he would have had the funds to prune them instead. He also could have easily preserved the bark. Sad.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Uh, no, we never fought France, but we sent a whole lotta boys over there to fight on their behalf. They'd be speaking German right now in Paris if the U.S. hadn't gone over and defended France in 1917 AND 1944. So while I understand the guy took the cheaper option of cutting the trees down rather than pruning them, which is what he was asked to do, someone should have stepped up and said hey, let's at least find a way to preserve the bark. Or as one of the commenters said, at least take thorough digital pictures to preserve every carving and put them on the web or the WWII museum, etc.

Originally Posted by SECdomination

Who hacked into your account?
Mark the date. I agree with you 100%.

I agree with both the above postings-to a point.
Check out the French and Indian Wars.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by jon1856

I agree with both the above postings-to a point.
Check out the French and Indian Wars.

That was a European War, some of which was fought on North American soil.

Originally Posted by SECdomination

Who hacked into your account?
Mark the date. I agree with you 100%.

You okay? Lay down if you start to feel lightheaded.

I'm more of a hawk than you probably think I am, SEC. I have lots of military in my family and both of my grandfathers were overseas in WWII. I don't, however, believe that being pro-military has to equal being pro-war (in fact, it's a whole other bag of emotions when you have family on the front line), and I temper my pro-military hoorah with primarily liberal social beliefs mixed in with a bit of fiscal conservatism (that still provides for the neediest in society). I think you mainly identify me by my "social justice crusader" bend. And that's ok. I'd probably fall out of my chair if one day you agreed with me on, say, gay marriage.

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

You okay? Lay down if you start to feel lightheaded.

I'm more of a hawk than you probably think I am, SEC. I have lots of military in my family and both of my grandfathers were overseas in WWII.

Me too.

I don't, however, believe that being pro-military has to equal being pro-war (in fact, it's a whole other bag of emotions when you have family on the front line), and I temper my pro-military hoorah with primarily liberal social beliefs mixed in with a bit of fiscal conservatism (that still provides for the neediest in society). I think you mainly identify me by my "social justice crusader" bend. And that's ok. I'd probably fall out of my chair if one day you agreed with me on, say, gay marriage.

Me too.
My goal is to make you a McCain supporter, it shouldn't be hard if you have an ounce of fiscal conservatism in you.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

My goal is to make you a McCain supporter

LOL. It's good to have goals... and learning to handle disappointment is an important life skill, so either way, it's a win for you.