From historic chateaux to memorial sites, in honor of the Centenary of the First World War, hear from three experts in Northeastern France about key remembrance sites, where present-day travelers interested in America’s role in The Great War can experience the past.
#1 Chateau de Blérancourt
CAROLE: Anne Morgan was not only a wealthy person. She was, I think, a very strong character, personality.
#2 Meuse–Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial
GUILLAUME: Well, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was a major offensive by the American troops, the American expeditionary force during World War I, and it’s also their last offensive because it’s the one that would lead to the Armistice and would lead to peace. Half of the soldiers that were killed during that battle are buried here. In fact, it’s 28,000 soldiers were killed, and almost 100,000 soldiers were wounded in that operation.
DARLEY: So many. It’s hard to comprehend.
GUILLAUME: It’s incredible being here. Just looking around you just cannot see the end of the cemetery. It’s huge.
#3 American Monument at Montfaucon-d’Argonnea
CONSTANT LEBASTARD: This cemetery here is one of the, not the largest, but one of the most known World War I cemeteries overseas. We have here 2289 headstones of soldiers, sailors, marines, aviators, who died not only during these battles but from June 1918 all the way to the end of the war. In fact, all these men came from all of the other states and came here in France about 2000, 3000 miles from home to fight for liberty.
