Tag Archives: World War One

Travel Tips: Seeking Permission to Enter Property When You Speak no French

August 28, 2018 by Randy
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    In a Garden / On a Farm As a non-French speaker visiting the battlefields, just getting breakfast at the hotel in the morning can be a daunting task.  Asking a land-owner for permission to walk their property is out of the question!  Before taking French lessons, the Webmaster fell into that category of traveler.  One strategy he used was to have a French co-worker (today Google Translate) write a short introduction letter in French, that can be modified to meet one’s specific needs.  Continue reading →

News & Events–Over There: August 20 Update on Harry Rupert and Chatel-Chehery Photo Exhibition

August 20, 2018 by Randy
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  The photo exhibition (about 150 photos) on the grounds of the Chateau in Chatel-Chehery is open for visitation during the times listed above.  However, the tent–which includes a slide show of several hundred additional photos–is closed for an indefinite period.  Harry Rupert has spent months planning this exhibition, so please support him by visiting it!   As reported in late July, Harry suffered a major health issue.  He is home and is recovering; but he still has very little energy and his recovery is Continue reading →

News & Events–Over There: Still Space Available on Meuse-Argonne.com Events this Fall

August 14, 2018 by Randy
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  Readers who do not yet have firm plans for Centennial Celebrations in France might like to know that there is still space available in certain Meuse-Argonne.com events this fall.  Specifically:   Small-Group Battlefield Walk Series, 20 – 27 Sept.  (Click on Title for Link to Details.) Three days still have openings: Tuesday, 25 Sept., Meuse-Argonne V Corps Wednesday, 26 Sept., Meuse-Argonne III Corps Thursday, 27 Sept., Meuse-Argonne Heights East of Meuse The tour is designed with flexibility so participants can select only the morning Continue reading →

News & Events–Stateside: Where to Find Upcoming Centennial Events

August 3, 2018 by Randy
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    While the Webmaster’s focus is on being “Over There” for the upcoming Centennial of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, many Americans will not have that luxury.  That doesn’t mean that there are not / will not be great events in the U.S. to attend over the next few months. Readers looking for events are encouraged to look at the United States’ World War One Centennial Commission’s website.  Under the “Commemorate” tab there is a WW1 Centennial Events page.  In case that page does not capture Continue reading →

People of the Meuse-Argonne: Dominique Lacorde

August 2, 2018 by Randy
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    Even today French locals, other Europeans and Americans find themselves drawn to the Meuse-Argonne region of France.  Once drawn there, many return time and again; often working on multi-year research or preservation projects.  In this irregular interview series, the Webmaster hopes to introduce readers to some of these individuals and their labor of love. Dominique Lacorde speaks no English, yet he has become one of the most active participants in the Meuse-Argonne.com Facebook Group.  He is always willing to help people, and he Continue reading →

Books and Movies: Back Over There… by Richard Rubin

July 30, 2018 by Randy
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  “Back Over There” is a fun-to-read travelogue; and it marks Richard Rubin’s second grand effort to educate an American public that is largely ignorant of or apathetic to the United States’ role in World War I.  In this book the author explores the American battlefields of Northeastern France; meeting a wide variety of Frenchmen, and other Europeans living in France, who show him the physical remains of the American WW1 battlefields in their backyard.  He intertwines these encounters and cultural vignettes with snippets of Continue reading →

News & Events–Over There: Harry Rupert Health Issues Close Chatel-Chehery Exhibit Temporarily. Stay Tuned for Updates.

July 26, 2018 by Randy
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  The Webmaster has been informed that Harry Rupert has suffered a serious health issue and it will take some time, which is still uncertain how long, to recover.  Unfortunately, this means that Harry’s photo exhibit in Chatel-Chehery is closed for an undetermined period of time. The Webmaster met Harry during his stay in France in 2017, and he and Harry struck up a good friendship.  Harry is well known in the area.  He volunteers at the Morolager near Binarville on Saturdays.  He was written Continue reading →

News & Events–Over There: Yankee Division Commemoration, 29 July, Braye-en-Laonnois

July 15, 2018 by Randy
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  The Yankee Division graffiti in the quarries underneath the Chemin des Dames is well-documented.  This is a chance for visitors to view those quarries and to commemorate the Yankee Division in the Aisne Sector and on the Chemin des Dames! The event will take place on Sunday, 29 July at 15h00.  Location is the Yankee Division Monument at the Carrieres de Froidmont (Quarries of Froidmont) in Braye-en-Laonnois.  It will take place in the presence of General Leonid Kondratiuk, National Commander of the Yankee Division Continue reading →

News & Events Over There: Still Planning Your Centennial Trip to France?

June 26, 2018 by Randy
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  For those of you still planning your 2018 Centennial trip to France, the Webmaster hopes this summary of events and information sites will be helpful to readers:   Meuse-Argonne.com Events The Webmaster and German historian Markus Klauer are offering a Small Group Battlefield Walk Series–with great date flexibility–from 20 – 27 September.  Each day will focus on a different Army Corps and will include a driven “monuments tour” in the am and an intensive hike in the pm.  The tour has also been designed Continue reading →