Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial, Fere-en-Tardenois

I visited this cemetery in the summer of 1990 while serving with the US Air Force in West Germany. One of the staff was ecstatic to have an American visiting. He personally showed me around! It was an oddly sad and proud day. They did a great job honoring the sacrifices of these soldiers!

My grandfather's 42nd (Rainbow) Division is honored here. My father's 80th birthday was celebrated with my brother and I traveling the route my grandfather's Alabama regiment fought, ending here. He survived luckily, yet many of his friends did not. Meticulously maintained and beautiful these shrine is a testament to the price Americans have always paid for freedom everywhere. The staff was excellent and open. They directed us to a private farm next door where we met the descendants that were liberated by the Alabama and New York regiments. The family flies an American flag over 90 years later. There is a standing invitation to all family members of both regiments to simply knock on their door to meet this grateful family. Amazing experience to say the least. This place is personal for my family and my father got emotional thinking of how many of his father's friend rest here.

Awe inspiring with a heavy blanket of snow and bright sunshine.

Just one more extraordinary and moving example of the American presence in France in the 20th Century. As it happened, discovery was by accident upon departing an overnight stay in nearby Villers-Agron-Aguizy -- a misty, gray day, and a sign with an arrow, "Cimitere Americaine." We delayed our arrival in Reims, detoured to the wast, and spent a meditative hour in this splendidly kept cemetery…… an example of one thing the U.S.Government does right: take care of our fallen in foreign lands.

The final resting place for more than 6000 World War I American soldiers who lost their lives here. Just to stand in the gate and look up through hundreds of white crosses is humbling.