Events

VISITING LA HAUTONNERIE FARM

Sun, 9 Nov 2014 00:00:00 -0500

Exactly 70 years later to the day, I had the most incredible experience of visiting the battlefield where my uncle Alan Lowell was killed, with my friend Vince. Col Vince Suppan was then a Lt in the 46th Field Artillary, which directly supported 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Division on the jump off day for the start of the battle of Metz. Vince was able to identify the layout of everything- recognizing what had been there in 1944, and what has been updated. He could finally explained that battle so that all the formal government explanations made some sense to me.

St. Avold, Fr, College La Carriere

Fri, 2 May 2014 00:00:00 -0400

The students at College La Carriere have become familiar with Alan’s Letters, and have even been translating some into French. Their professor, Md. Muller prepares them thoroughly for my visits. More news to follow. Every work session with the students is a delight!

SHUTDOWN AT ST. AVOLD

Thu, 3 Oct 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The shutdown in Washington, DC had embarrassing repercussions in the Lorraine region of France. The largest World War II Military Cemetery was closed to visitors. Unfortunately, if someone made the trek to the cemetery to pay respects to an individual brave soldier (for some U. S visitors- a once in a lifetime event to visit a friend, an uncle, or even a father) , a simple note on the gate told the person that there would be no entry during this time of congressional debate.

ANN FRANK’S House, Amsterdam

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:04:02 -0400

I, like many schoolchildren around the world, read Ann Frank’s diary when i was at school and have always wanted to visit this place. I finally had the opportunity on my last trip to France when an overnight stay in Amsterdam was cheaper then a direct flight home! The museum was quite crowded (I am told it always is) so leisurely “wandering” was not possible, but everyone was very respectful. I met with two other very thoughtful women and struck up good conversations about that time period. I wondered if Ann Frank, and others like her, knew of the thousands of soldiers who were coming to help, some of whom were also writing their thoughts down on paper-usually in the form of letters home. I have always been interested in diaries, letters, memoirs, etc, and wonder if emails will now be replacing the elegant writings of the past.

American Military Cemetery, St. Avold, France

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:41:36 -0400

This cemetery is mentioned several times on this website, and I write about a little of it’s history in the book, ALAN’S LETTERS. I visit as often as possible, and usually the purpose is serious. However, this article from the “LORRAINE REPUBLIC” newspaper, writes about a slightly more undignified event: that of crows messing up the beautiful monuments. It seems that French falcons are coming to the aid of the American crosses by chasing the pesky crows out of the area. It is wonderful to see how well tended the American cemeteries are kept overseas; Please visit one while you are on vacation.