My thanks and gratitude to the French who took the time to do this a few weeks ago on Omaha beach: (h/t Gateway Pundit and Small Dead Animals for video)

I’m speechless.
Here is a press release issued by the French Embassy:
In the spirit of its mission statement, “The French Will Never Forget”, organized an extraordinary gathering of approximately 2500 people in Omaha Beach, Normandy for July 4 th 2007. The crowd formed on the sand the letters of the phrase: “FRANCE WILL NEVER FORGET”, aimed at honoring the fallen American heroes who scarified their lives to liberate France at the end of WW II.
The United States Ambassador to France, H.E Craig R. Stapleton and his spouse attended the event along with several American and French personalities. They all joined the crowd on the beach and actually helped form with many other people the letter F of FRANCE.
“Our goal is, once again, to demonstrate the deep respect and gratitude of the people of France, for their recovered freedom thanks to America’s extreme sacrifices during the Second World War and which no one can, or will ever forget.” declared the co-founders of the organization.
The site of Omaha Beach was chosen not only for its history, but also because of its symbolism. The beach is located nearby the main American cemetery where thousands of American soldiers who died in this war have been laid to rest.
Prior to the event, there was a ceremony at the cemetery of Omaha Beach with the US Ambassador to lay a flower reef and honor the memories of the heroes fallen there. Numerous representatives of local and national organizations, as well as French and American veterans were in attendance. Arnold FRANCO, famous US veteran who participated to the liberation of the Eiffel tower flew from the United States with his three grandchildren to attend the whole event.
Four Frenchmen started this group called The French Will Never Forget over four years ago and have done some kind of ceremony each year since. The first year they laid a single red rose on the grave of all 60,511 American soldiers who died in WWI and WWII and have been instrumental in getting the French government to issue Legions of Merits to the surviving American soldiers.
The French sure do surprise us every once in awhile huh?

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Wow. That actually made me cry. My uncle, Jack Kelley, was killed in France serving this country during WWII. I heard many stories about him growing up. Wish I’d had the chance to know him. Bless the people who put together this tribute, and thanks, Curt, for posting it.
Kathleen
NC Soldiers Angel
Thank you for presenting this in a way that doesn’t use it as a cheap opportunity to bash America. I’ve seen this mentioned elsewhere, but always with an anti-American spin – e.g. about how Americans hate the French so much that they don’t want to see things like this, or about how France appreciates America’s favors in the past but those ignorant and ungrateful Americans don’t remember France’s favors in the past. You’re the first place I saw where it’s just presented straight, in the spirit in which it was obviously intended.
I feel a little better about the French right now.
Maybe,they realize that through their arrogance they have again created a dangerous situation that is impossible to solve without the help of the “tasteless,backwards and evil Americans”.I wonder how they would feel if our response to their inevitable plea for help is,”no blood for the wine culture”.The people of France do not deserve our help nor our respect.
I have an idea for a picture like that but I don’t have the tech savvy to pull it off. One of you folks who has PhotoShop skills could do this.
How about a similar tribute to America from the Iraqis? But specifically aimed at the Surrender Monkeys.
July 4, 2010
Iraq Will Never Forget
Thank you Reid and Pelosi
And put a giant hand in the form of a “bird” giving the US Congress the finger.
I’m an American born and raised and I’ve been living in France for the past 4 months while doing a semester abroad. I was actually at Omaha Beach when they were doing this and saw it live. I have come to find out the French don’t really hate us. If you ever visit Normandy, (or anywhere besides Paris) the French will actually talk to you and be extremely nice. The anti-American sentiment that we seem to always hear about, I believe, is propagated through our media for whatever reason. Yes, there are some people in France that don’t like us, but the vast majority don’t seem to mind and there are a lot that want to talk to you about visiting the States or someone they know from the States. I have to admit that I at one point had a negative view of the French, but after living amongst them, I think that they are a great countrymen soured by a few.