The evening began with drinks at their hotel, the Manhattan Club.

Watching international relationships build as Americans travel abroad is one of the great pleasures the Webmaster receives from maintaining this website and the very active Meuse-Argonne.com Facebook Group.  A few weeks ago the Webmaster added a feature article to his website:  “When an American Woman Rediscovers the History of a Small Village in the Meuse.”  It tells the story of Laurie Button, her “adopted” 5th Division Doughboy, Walter “Wave” Miguel, and the moving commemoration ceremony the town of Louppy-sur-Loison held on Saturday, 10 November, 1918, the 100th anniversary of the date of his death.  The Webmaster attended that ceremony and met several people from the village and Lorraine, including Mayor Guy-Joel Chatton and his extended family.

This was followed by a little shopping and sightseeing.

Not even three months later, the Webmaster had his own opportunity to build bridges across the Atlantic:  Jean-Sebastian Chatton, Carine Chatton, daughter Eugenie and family friend Berangere Lenelle had traveled from Verdun, France to Manhattan to celebrate Carine’s birthday.  On Friday, 25 January the Webmaster joined the group for a few hours.  He had a chance to show them a few sites before helping them experience American food at Virgil’s BBQ.  With his modest French and some English help from Jean-Sebastian and Berangere, the five participants shared a wonderful evening and celebrating cultural differences!  (How do you pronounce Virgil’s BBQ?)  Bonne anniversaire Carine!!!

Finally, dinner at Virgil’s BBQ on 44th Street.