We are receiving inquiries from some of you about the exact dates and the plans for the group trip to France this fall. As we wrote you, the trip was to be arranged to include several days in Paris and several in Blerancourt and a possible extension to include attendance at the Annual Reunion of the British 8th Army Association at Blackpool, England. All of this was dependent upon arrangement with the Directorate of French Museums to allot extra space to AFS temporarily for a much expanded World War II exhibit in the Blerancourt Museum. Since we have not yet had word from France about this arrangement and time is now too short to complete preparations, we are compelled to postpone the trip until next spring. We hope to establish dates, costs, and other details well ahead of time and will inform you early in 1990. Meanwhile, if you are going to France this fall or winter, the AFS permanent exhibit at Blerancourt is well worth a trip from Paris. On 7 July the new and expanded AFS Exhibit was opened to the public in the Florence Gould Pavilion of the Museum at Blerancourt of Franco-American Cooperation. Dignitaries speaking at the opening ceremonies included the French Minister of CuIture, the U.S. Ambassador, the Director of the Museums of France, the President of the Florence J. Gould Foundation, and, for AFS, Arthur Howe, Jr., ME 2, life-trustee and former president of AFS. Below is the text of Art's speech: I want to talk today about Passion, the heated core of Franco-American relationships. Others have spoken of the inspirational, revolutionary flame sent back and forth across the Atlantic in the 18th century. And I salute the creations of French Culture as a universal standard of taste and excellence that has attracted and influenced - passionately influenced -America's most creative artists, writers, and thinkers. In all of this, both have learned that Passion not guided by Reason can become a loose arrow, and we also know that lovers can, and do, quarrel. I submit that no group of Americans drew more strongly on our shared Passion for freedom, justice and excellence than the American Field Service Volunteer Ambulance and Camion Drivers of World War I. In the
dark days of autumn 1914, young Americans resident in Paris volunteered to the new American Hospital at Neuilly. Recruitment at home spread quickly to over one hundred American universities, and 2,500 young men left their studies to provide a passionately idealistic, humanitarian service to France at an hour of need - in many cases at great or ultimate sacrifice. Their light-mobile Ford ambulances, donated by American friends of France, dictated they should serve in the forward areas of greatest misery, hazard and horror. These youthful, spirited, totally engaged volunteers transported over 600,000 French casualties and countless tons of military supplies prior to America's entry to the war and the federalization of AFS units. But even then, upon appeal from the French Army, many continued to serve in a special branch of the u.s. Army Ambulance Corps assigned to the French forces. After the Armistice these young idealists, tested and matured by unforgetable horror and sUffering, shared a passionate desire to promote the ways of peace and understanding. And what more appropriate than an exchange of scholars between American and French universities? Thus the flame continued, and it was powerfully refueled by Clemenceau's donation of the entire proceeds of his 1922 American lecture tour to the AFS Scholars Program. Then came World War II, but even before it started, AFS Veterans of the first war were preparing to revive the volunteer service to France. Within a few months organized AFS volunteers arrived, and a Paris paper proclaimed "L'Histoire se repete". Again, with strong commitments but at a heavy price, young Americans were standing by France. And even after the Occupation, the AFS mission continued with the Free French forces: in 1941 in Lebanon, in 1942-43 in North Africa, and in the 1944 invasion of southern France, all the way to victory. I know, because I was there and saw much of it. Our AFS unit with the Free French Brigade at Bir Hacheim suffered 100% casualties: one third killed, one third captured, one third wounded, and all vehicles destroyed or seriously damaged. Following the devastating summer of the relationships of AFS with the
French Army in two wars provided the pattern for a new enlarged AFS volunteer Ambulance service to many other allies: Britain, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Poland, Greece, and even the united States. A fertile seed produced by Franco-American activity bore abundant, lifesaving fruit throughout the rest of W.W.II, in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the IndiaBurma front. And again after W.W.II, there were the youthful AFS idealists, tempered by harsh realities, but passionately wanting meaningful participation in the search for peace. Thus, the beginnings of the present AFS Intercultural Programs grew dramatically into one of the world's most respected, effective cultural exchanges. In depth, personalized involvement in a different culture, generally a new home and school, is annually provided for 10,000 youths moving between sixty nations. As a life-long professional educator, once himself privileged to participate in this kind of exchange, I testify the young have no greater opportunity for personal and intellectual growth appropriate to 20th Century realities and desperately needed in an interdependent world. Here today are many who carry forward this work throughout France under the banner of AFS (VSF)-(Vivre Sans Frontiere) I salute them for their creative response to a legacy that decrees: "They shall not have died in vain. " wi th an overwhelming sense of appreciation, and hope for the future, we of AFS thank generous benefactors, wise statesmen, and dedicated archivists for their vital roles in preserving our heritage here at Blerancourt. Though only one part of this great museum, we intend to remain an important part as our AFS programs, founded on passionate Franco-American relations, reached out to the whole world. It would be a kinder, safer, more just world if every pupil of every nation could spend a year living and studying in a different culture. The motto of the AFS World War I volunteers was: "Tous et tout pour la France." When eloquently restated at the end of the war by their leader, A. Piatt Andrew, he added "We
all felt it. ours." So may it americaine.
We all meant it.
It is forever
be.
The permanent collection at the Museum is described in the catalogue which we sent you in our last mailing. It may interest you to know that as of a month ago, there had been over 2500 visitors to the Blerancourt Museum exhibit since its reopening on 7 July.
A letter from Alec Lewis, editor of The New Crusader, the Eighth Army Association pUblication, advises us: "Our General Secretary, George Worthington, MM, duly advised our 30 Branches of the contact with the AFS, the exhibition at the Musee Franco-American at Blerancourt, and the fact that we now hold a full list of names and addresses of former AFS ambulance drivers." ....
Many members will recall the high regard we had for the American volunteer ambulance drivers who co-operated so whole-heartedly with the Allied forces in the various theatres of war. In the M.E. some of them were involved soon after Italy declared war, and they never had the slightest hesitation in taking their ambulances right forward to collect the wounded. The Service has been anxious to effect contact with our Association and many of their former drivers would like to renew their acquaintances with former British comrades. At the Musee Franco-American at Blerancourt, some 60 miles NE of Paris, in the Florence Gould Pavilion there is an extensive exhibition of memorabilia flags, paintings, banners, uniforms, important documents and artifacts covering the two World Wars, showing from 7th July to the end of September.] "For any of your people coming over, I feel that I should inform you of other events at that time which might be included in their schedules, dependent upon where they are staying etc., in England.
1.
Sat.
21st Oct. EAVA East Sussex Branch El Alamein Reunion at Hove, Sussex (South Coast) . Our President Earl Kitchener will be in attendance and probably, the Mayors of Brighton and Hove. About 500 usual attend.
2.
Sun.
22nd Oct. The annual Parade at EnhamAlamein with Memorial Service at the st. Georges Alamein Memorial Church, EnhamAlamein, near Andover, Hants. About 30/40 miles from Hove (above). This is a big parade and the service overflows the church. About 600-1000 usually attend.
3.
Sat. 28th Oct. ANNUAL EL ALAMEIN REUNION, WINTER GARDENS, BLACKPOOL. 11 a.m. lunchtime band concert and 'get-together' (about 900 attending). Evening REUNION ENTERTAINMENTabout 1800 expected.
4.
Sun.
29th Oct. ANNUAL EL ALAMEIN PARADE AND CENOTAPH SERVICE, BLACKPOOL. Approx. 3,000 usually march. II
William P. Orrick Director, Archives