On my first visit to France (in 1996), I’m in a bank waiting for my wife to do some currency exchange when an older French gentleman walks up to me and asks (in fairly decent, but heavily French-accented English) if I’m an American.
I tell him yes I am, and he shakes my hand vigorously and proceeds to thank me and all Americans for saving him and his family on D day in WW2. He showed me a very worn rubber-band-bound pocket English/French dictionary that he says he carries so that he can practice his English – so that he can be prepared for an encounter such as this.
He went on to describe how his family was rounded up into a concentration camp and as a small boy, how his father tried to calm the family, knowing they were soon likely to be gassed.
He said that the Americans storming of Normandy beach and ending the war saved his life. He can remember being pulled up from an underground room by soldiers (I’m not sure if they were Americans or not).
He said that every year as an adult, he travels to Normandy and puts on a sweater with a US flag woven into it and kisses the ground on that beach.
I couldn’t believe what was transpiring, but it made me break down and cry. My wife came over from her transaction and the story was repeated for her, with the same reaction.
I felt such a sense of pride for my country and those who have served over the years and I really felt great for this old man who continues to be thankful all those years later.
~ by HV
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Kindness Blog 
Such beautiful sentiment.
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Beautiful story. I remember visiting the American Cemetery in France when we visited several years ago and how impeccably maintained it was.
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beautiful
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Our great country may not be perfect and there are always ways to improve ourselves but stories like this serve to remind us all of the great basic goodness of the USA and her people in times of dire need. I am proud to be part of our great nation, warts and all, and proud and thankful for our service people. Thank you for sharing this story with everyone, very moving.
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Wonderful story first thing in the morning. Deeply moving. Thank you
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That is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
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😿 Oh my kats! Thanks so much fur sharing this!
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Such deep gratitude over a lifetime for a lifetime. We should all remember to be as grateful for our freedom, because not only was that man liberated because of D-Day, we all were.
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So many now days have no idea how deeply affected some people are by the horrors of the past
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Thanks for sharing. It is nice those efforts are appreciated.
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I had similar stories. I was station in Germany. I traveled Europe. I met many people who wanted to sit with me and tell their story. In WW1 and WW2. Blood of the USA left the world free.
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Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
All life is precious. Each day, a blessing. Please read and learn. Fierce warriors stood tall and free Europe.
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