History and Emotion
(La République du Centre - December 22nd 1998)

An American Pilot meets his saviours again, 54 years later

A member of our Association, Christian Levaufre, after spending more than two years in inquiries, finds out the American pilot brought down in July 44, and arranges a meeting with the Frenchman who concealed him.

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Also take a look at the following sections

• 1999 Infantry Division Reunion
• 90th US Infantry Division Association
• You were a POW during WW2
• June 6 Ceremonies
• First General Meeting of our Association
• Inauguration : Preliminary Program

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Henri Levaufre
He is the living memory of the 90th Infantry Division that liberated Périers in 1944.

• He is the official European Representative of the 90th US Division since 1972.
• He has particular dealings with the USA, and more especially with Veterans.
• He manages, assisted by his wife Janète, the welcome in Périers of American Veterans since 1973.

On June 5th 1994, he gathered in Périers, in a same ceremony American, German and French Veterans.

Because of his action in favor of History and Peace, he has been honored many times since 1971, especially with the highest decoration the American army can present to a civilian.

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Patrick Cottencin
French sculptor, born in 1953 - lives and work near Paris and in Normandy.

Patrick Cottencin exhibits in France and neighboring countries.

e-mail: Cottencin@aol.com

Patrick Cottencin appears to be the one owing the required qualities to create the imposing work, in the mind of what we are looking for. With a full involvement in our reflection, Patrick Cottencin brought us his professional skill and artistic feeling.

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Credits and Acknowledgement

The Normandy 44 Board of Directors wishes to thank more specially :

• The Chairman and Members of the Regional Council of Manche, who take an interest in its great plan,

• The Mayor, Township and City-Council who agreed to provide their logistic support,

• All the Volunteers who, for the last 35 years, have been welcoming the 90th Division Veterans on their stays to Périers, and have helped, through their permanent assistance, our Association to arise,

• All of the sympathizers who support the action of Normandy 44, and all of those who by joining them, will allow the completion of a Commemorative Monument dedicated to the 90th US division, and maybe the achievement in Périers of a Memorial place dedicated to Remembrance and Memory.

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Useful Links
If you are aware of sites sharing the same centres of interest, let us know them !

• French, American, German, British, Canadian, etc... sites covering WWII
• Sites about the 90th US Division
• Sites about Périers, Cotentin, Normandy
• Associations
• Museums
• Archives
• Administrations

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The Guest Book
Any person in good faith may let, if he wants to, a message in our Guest Book, which will be at visitors' disposal in the working loft, and later inside the Memorial. The most significant pages, written down before the inauguration, might join the list of donors, into the capsule that will be sealed inside of the Monument.
If you are a distant friend, send us your message by postal or electronic mail, and we will give it a due place.
The most significant extracts will be reproduced onto this web site, with the authorization of their writer. (CNIL)

Discover the Guest Book
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The Information Brochure
This high quality leaflet, realized by the artist Patrick Cottencin, and printed at 2500 copies in French language and 2500 more copies in English language, will be widely distributed to general public, business companies, administrations and every concerned organization.

It will also be typically handed over to all the towns and cities owing their liberation to the 90th US Division, so that they get informed, as broadly as possible, of the goals aimed at by our Association.

The attached Subscription Form may be returned by the donors to the Association. May we remind you that donations exceeding 100 Francs will be backed by a receipt, thus allowing a tax deduction, within legal limits.

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Download the Brochure in English (Acrobat PDF 426 Ko)
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Freedom Trail Bicycle Tour
Bike Ride along Patton Trail, Leclerc Trail, Trail to Peace

Périers 1994 - Photo P. Guillard

Our friend and fellow citizen Pierre Guillard chairs the Association of the Freedom Trail Friends (Association des Amis de la Voie de la Liberté) since its settlement on November 18th 1985. This Association gather about thirty people who, in a voluntary manner, intend to revive History through Sport, by having each year some 500 cyclists ride the roads of France, in order to induce currents of friendship between peoples.

• In 1998, the 3 Days for Freedom animated Périers and its region.
• In 1999, these 3 Days for Freedom took place in Bastogne (Belgium) on June 4th, 5th and 6th.
• In Year 2000, this sport event will take place in Périers, on June 2, 3 and 4, in the same time as the inauguration of the Périers Memorial dedicated to the American Soldiers, work of art under study and construction by the Association Normandy 44 - 90th US Division.

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Périers Country
Located in the middle of Manche area, Périers Country is a rural zone, both wealthy and fragile, a land of contrasts in the depths of bocage and swamps. It is also an history marked area, from Romans till Americans in 1944.

Sites in Périers Country (2600 inhabitants) :

• The city of Périers prides on an outstanding gothic church (XIII and XIV Centuries) labeled historic masterpiece. One should also take a look at the City Hall and the old Covered Market, and visit the Bike Museum.
• Its environmental attraction both comes from its bocage landscape and from its wide expanses of flooded swamps ( heaven of migratory birds ) that look just as if sky was their only bound.
• American Veterans remember all those places named Hospital lane, Saint-Clair marsh, La Varde marsh, Bohons lane, " Little water " ford … : witnesses of so many feats of arms.
• And then , striking the north-western landscape, the hillock of Lithaire where Grimaud, contemporary with William the Conqueror, had built his keep on the slopes of Mont-Castre (Hill 122), the famous place where happened the big battles that stood out along the history of Cotentin.

Périers past and present
Périers in 1944
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