News & Events:  Meuse Argonne & Verdun Sectors

Scheduled work weekends: The German group DEA, together with the French group Les Amis, organizes various work weekends at Vauquois Hill and at other areas of the salient throughout the year.  Readers SERIOUSLY interested in supporting the preservation and research efforts of these two long-time organizations can find more information on their websites from my links page.

Tours of the above- and underground installations at Vauquois Hill:  Members of Les Amis guide tours from 9:30 – 11:00am on the first Sunday of every month and at other times throughout the year.  View their website for more details.

Special Events:

4 October, 2008.  Chatel Chehery, France.  Sgt. York 90th Anniversary Commemoration and Dedication of Monument and Trail.  Below is a partial printing of an email from Doug Mastriano, leader of the Sgt. York Discovery Team.  Please see his website for a full list of events.

I am pleased to announce that the monument at the spot in France where Alvin C. York earned the Medal of Honor on 8 October 1918 is in the ground...

 Much has been done so far but the work is not finished.  We have a lot more to do and need significant donations.  We will finish the major portion of the work on the Sergeant York Historic Trail (in the Argonne Forest, France) in July.  The trail is designed so that all visitors to the battlefield can walk where York walked.  The information board in Chatel Chehery is in English, French and German so that visitors can easily navigate and understand the battle as they follow his foot-steps 90 years later.

 ...We will transform this area into a “memorial park” and we need donations to support this endeavor.  All donations are tax deductible.  If you would like to donate – please visit our website at www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com  and click on the SYDE Donations button in the menu to do so.

 Our work will culminate on 4 October 2008 with the 90^th anniversary commemoration of York’s actions and the dedication of the new monument and trail in Chatel Chehery, France.  If you have any questions about the trail, monument or dedication ceremony, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 Respectfully,

Douglas Mastriano

www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com

Summer - Fall, 2008.  Various Locations in the Meuse-Argonne and Verdun.  90th Anniversary of the Franco-American Offensives in the Meuse & the Armistice.  Various events are being organized by the Conseil Général de la Meuse to commemorate these two activities.  To view a description in French go to:  http://us.offensives1918-meuse.com/servlet/ShowInfo?M=S169SFR-1RF.  To view a description in English go to:  http://us.offensives1918-meuse.com/servlet/ShowInfo?M=S174SFR13RF.

11 November, 2005.  Fléville, France.  Scheduled opening of the Arthur S. Tozar Museum, a French-American Historical and Cultural Center.  http://www.chez.com/astozarmuseum/

29 October, 2005.  Avoucourt, France.  20th Anniversary Meeting and Dinner of the Deutsches Erinnerungskommittee Argonnerwald.  http://www.argonnerwald.de

1 April, 2005.  Romagne, France.  Grand Opening of Mr. Jean-Paul deVries' private museum.  Go to the Feature Article on the Museum.

26-28 November, 2004.  Verdun Military History Meeting 2004.  Also arranged by German historian Marcus Massing, this three-day intensive tour/meeting will include tours of the German positions around St. Mihiel and Verdun.  The format is similar to the Verdun Fortifications meeting outlined below.  Contact Marcus Massing for more information.

29-31 October, 2004.  Verdun Fortifications Meeting 2004.  Arranged by German historian Marcus Massing, this annual three-day, intensive tour/meeting will include three days of tours of the Verdun fortifications.  It appears that the tour will last all day.  Participants are advised to bring their own food and drink in the morning.  There will be no stopping for food once in the field.  Participants are also advised to wear clothing for inclement weather and to have a certain level of physical fitness.  I believe that the primary language spoken will be German.  This is a great opportunity to view the Verdun fortifications with some very knowledgeable Europeans.  For details, interested participants should contact Marcus Massing at MMSting@aol.com or call him (in Germany) at 011-49-2146 1796.

News:

Private Museum Website  (August 2004):  European friend Christina Holstein brought to my attention a website for a private museum in Romagne run by Mr. Jean-Paul deVries.  Check it out:  http://home-2.worldonline.nl/~otis/jpmuseum

Philatelic Collection  (May 2004):  In order to commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the liberation of the Butte de Vauquois by American forces, the Varennes Philatelic Association published an assortment of eight philatelic envelopes, a sample of which is printed below.  Each eight envelope set can be purchased for a price of 26 Euros, or about $32 at today's exchange rate.  (Note:  You can probably get Euros or Euro-denominated traveler checks through your local AAA or bank.)  Send your request to:  Association philatélique varennoise; M. Loïc Taboureaux; 3, rue du Houleux; 55270  Varennes en Argonne

(Smaller than actual size.)

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