And so, the time arrives to make the final departure from our ship. There is sadness when we think of leaving behind peaceful days cruising along the Rhine, and the gourmet meals and excellent service and care we received while aboard. These are memories we will keep with us and think of fondly in the years to come.
There will be a long day on the bus before we reach our final destination of Paris. However, the two stops we make enroute will leave lasting impressions. As we travel through France, we pass by cities and towns, interspersed with farmland and vineyards. As in Germany, the use of wind power in France is very evident by the number of wind turbines that we see.
The first stop is the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Luxembourg, France. The U.S. 5th Armored Division liberated the site on September 10, 1944, and a temporary burial ground was established on December 29, 1944. Free use as a permanent burial ground was granted by the Grand Ducal government in perpetuity without charge or taxation. The cemetery is operated and maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, an agency of the United States government. The first chairman of the commission, General of the Armies John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, promised that "time will not dim the glory of their deeds".
At the entrance there are two tall wrought iron sections that bear gilded laurel wreaths, the ancient award for valor. Gilded eagles sit atop the stone pillars. At the top of the radials there is a Memorial Chapel, and each radial mall contains two fountains overlooking three jet pools on descending levels. Bronze dolphins and turtles decorate the pools symbolizing, respectively, Resurrection and Everlasting Life. On either side of the paved stone terrace are the Tablets of the Missing which display the names of 317 Missing in Action - soldiers and airmen that were never recovered, or rest in unknown graves.
A few facts about the cemetery:
- It was dedicated on July 4, 1960.
- It covers 50.5 acres.
- There are 5,076 headstones.
- There are 4,958 Latin crosses, and 118 Stars of David.
- General George S. Patton, Jr. is buried between the flagpoles in front of the Memorial overlooking the graves.
- There are 22 sets of brothers buried there.
Our visit was a very humbling experience and an honor, and we will be forever grateful that we had an opportunity to spend some time there.
Our journey on the bus continued until we reached Reims, France. Reims is the 12th most populated city in France and lies 80 miles northeast of Paris on the Vesle River. Reims is an administrative and commercial center. Together with Épernay, it forms the industrial center of the champagne wine district. The wine is stored in large cellars tunneled in the chalk that underlies the district.
Reims Cathedral, or the Cathedrale de Notre-Dame Reims, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is an example of French Gothic architecture and has a very rich historical background. The cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was the traditional location for the coronation of the kings of France.
Reims Cathedral has 2,303 statues in its walls and is the world’s only religious edifice that contains the largest number of statues, one of which is particularly famous: the “Ange au sourire” (The Smiling Angel), emblem of Reims. There are many breathtakingly beautiful stained-glass windows, among them the rose windows, windows celebrating the monk Dom Perignon and the local French champagne industry, Windows by Marc Chagall in the Axial chapel and so many more. Out of the many amazing sites within the cathedral, the beautiful archways lining the ceiling of the hallway took my breath away.
After a brief respite to indulge in some local cuisine, we once again boarded the bus to continue our journey. Next stop...Paris.
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