THE COMMEMORATION

France is celebrating the end of the war in the month of May. They have many days off of school and work and many holidays that they celebrate. Marie was more than surprised when I told her I wanted to come to the commemoration that was happening one morning in the middle of town. She couldn’t believe I would be interested in such a thing.

There were two commemorations that we went to that morning. The first was a small commemoration with the mayor up near the mountains of Mazamet. There were only older townspeople there to see this commemoration happen. They said some very beautiful words in French and lay flowers down and the feet of a memorial.

We then drove down to a local pub in the center of the town and had a coffee with all of the Mayors counsel members and what seemed to me like very important people.

From the pub we walked to the next commemoration, which was in a much larger area of town. There was a bigger memorial hear and many more people. Still, these people were still quite a bit older, but there were many people there to hear the Mayor speak and to celebrate the day.

Little to my knowledge, during the Mayors speech, he told the audience that had gathered that there was an American visiting them and he thanked me for my presence there that day. I didn’t know this was happening until everyone around me had their eyes on me.

The staring was interrupted by the beginning of a French song that everyone joined in singing, and the commemoration was finished. I am so lucky that I was able to see  a part of their history and experience the joy and pride that they feel for their country.

And Mr. Mayor, thanks for the shout out.