We will
be leaving for Louisiana on May 9th. I
intentionally waited until the 9th to allow the group to be in France on May
8th, a significant date. It will be the
70th anniversary marking the end of the Second World War (also written World
War II or WWII). I am certain there will
be many ceremonies in our towns and cities everywhere in France (and Europe). Victory Day* is an official national holiday in
France. This year it will be a special national
day of remembrance and gratitude for the freedom we cherish today.
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/france/wwii-victory-day
In New Orleans we will also take time to look back at World War II, but through American eyes. On May 12th, we are going to visit The National WWII Museum. What an opportunity to visit this museum in May of 2015!
The Museum opened on June 6,
2000, the 56th anniversary of D-Day. Some people may wonder why The National WWII
Museum is in New Orleans, a
city known for other tourism sites but which is not usually associated with 20th-century military history. The
Museum opened as the D-Day Museum, focusing initially on the amphibious invasion of Normandy, then opening a second gallery
exploring the amphibious invasions of the Pacific War. Because the Higgins Boats, vital to D-Day operations, were designed, built, and
tested in New Orleans by Higgins Industries,
the city was the natural home for such a project.
Furthermore, New Orleans was the home of historian Stephen Ambrose, a longtime professor of history at the University of New Orleans. He served as
the historical consultant for the movie Saving Private Ryan, and he spearheaded the effort to build the
Museum. He also wrote the book which inspired the mini-series Band of Brothers (Frères d’Armes).
The Museum
closed for three months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, re-opening on December 3 of that year. A museum banner
promoted this re-opening by proclaiming "We
Have Returned," a phrase made famous by General Douglas MacArthur regarding his eventual return to the Philippines in 1944.
This museum was designated by the U.S. Congress as "America's
National World War II Museum" in 2003, and the Museum maintains an
affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. The museum's objective is to emphasize the American experience in World War II.
The National WWII Museum's exhibits show us the war that changed
the world, in a voice that is intimate and personal, right in the heart
of New Orleans. Exhibits not only highlight the role of world leaders, but also the everyday men and women who found the strength and courage to accomplish
the extraordinary.
Currently housed in three buildings, each arranged
around central themes of the war, Museum exhibits offer visitors an opportunity
to experience the war through the eyes
of the men and women who lived it.
Jane...who apologizes for making this so long today, but it is very interesting, n'est-ce pas?!
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Victory in Europe Day, generally known as V-E Day, VE Day, or simply V Day.
to wonder = se demander
to focus on something = se focaliser sur quelque chose
to design = dessiner
furthermore = de plus, en outre
to spearhead = être à l'origine de
mini-series = un téléfilm en plusieurs parties
banner = une banderole
to promote = promouvoir
regarding = à propos de
to emphasize = mettre l'accent sur le fait; souligner
exhibits = les expositions
right = here, exactement
housed = here, "house" is a verb, abriter
Higgins boats:
https://www.tumblr.com/search/landing%20craft%20vehicle%20personnel
