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John Kerry
Related: About this forumLocal western France's newspapers coverage of John Kerry's arrival and stay in St Briac.
http://www.saint-malo.maville.com/actu/actudet_-john-kerry-deux-faucons-noirs-ont-atterri-a-l-aeroport-de-dinard_fil-2564193_actu.HtmFrom Ouest-France.
Expected to 17h, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived at the airport at 19:10 Pleurtuit Friday night.
On site, some curious were present to witness the landing of the helicopter carrying one of the most powerful men on the planet.......
Soon the delegation present to receive John Kerry is activated. Hosted by the prefect, he quickly slipped into a big black 4x4. The procession left the scene in the direction of Saint-Briac where U.S. Secretary of State should reside until Sunday evening.
A ceremony with photographer Tony Vaccaro is provided all morning in Saint-Briac Saturday.
Earlier, it was Brice Lalonde, former mayor of the town, and cousin John Kerry arrived in the town.
Soon the delegation present to receive John Kerry is activated. Hosted by the prefect, he quickly slipped into a big black 4x4. The procession left the scene in the direction of Saint-Briac where U.S. Secretary of State should reside until Sunday evening.
A ceremony with photographer Tony Vaccaro is provided all morning in Saint-Briac Saturday.
Earlier, it was Brice Lalonde, former mayor of the town, and cousin John Kerry arrived in the town.
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Local western France's newspapers coverage of John Kerry's arrival and stay in St Briac. (Original Post)
mylye2222
Jun 2014
OP
karynnj
(59,909 posts)1. The same source now has this - with lots of video links
(google translated it to English after it loaded. ) http://www.ouest-france.fr/70e-d-day-saint-briac-hommage-de-john-kerry-aux-soldats-americains-2603858
At the end of this page, there are many other links - including this one on his having spent the evening at his family's estate. http://www.ouest-france.fr/john-kerry-le-secretaire-detat-americain-passe-la-soiree-aux-essarts-2601364
The number of articles alone show how excited the town was to welcome him back.
More video coverage (in English) here - http://t.co/8EMMNmCQLp
mylye2222
(2,992 posts)2. BFMTV and Le Parisien covered it well to. Jk gave his speech in French.
mylye2222
(2,992 posts)3. Here another coverage from France 3, with video.
MBS
(9,688 posts)4. This was particularly nice
So much warmth and affection, all around.
The 93-year old American photographer-vet was a nice touch, too.
But I couldn't quite make out all the French. Can you translate his joke?
I caught something about "tour de tennis", then missed the rest. Whatever the rest was, it made everyone laugh. .
Such a wonderful part of the world, too. .
mylye2222
(2,992 posts)5. yes here is it.
He said as a kid he loved so much le Tour de France that he and cousins biked around the tennis and around the estate in général.
MBS
(9,688 posts)6. OK, that makes sense!
I could tell that the "Tour de Tennis" was a joke, but now I understand why! Thanks.
karynnj
(59,909 posts)8. I agree - it looks like the town was very happy to see him - and he looked
just as happy to be there. Thank you for the prepared remarks - they are great and incredibly personal for JK.
MBS
(9,688 posts)7. here's the English transcript of his formal remarks:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/06/227267.htm
(government document, OK to reproduce in toto)
(Applause and cheers.)
(government document, OK to reproduce in toto)
Remarks at the Liberation Commemoration Ceremony and Dedication of City Hall Square
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
St. Briac, France
June 7, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY: (In French.)
I’m going to deliver remarks in French, but I want to start by saying a few words in English for the Americans who want to know why the American Secretary of State is here today and what we are celebrating. And I want to quickly explain why St. Briac and all of Brittany means so much to me and to my entire family, and it is why we wanted to come here today to celebrate the liberation even though the liberation was in August, but yesterday we were at the beginning of that liberation, celebrating with people from all of Europe and the world who know the meaning of D-Day and of freedom.
My grandfather was an American businessman, and he discovered the beauty of the Emerald Coast and raised his family of 11 children, 11 brothers and sisters, including my mother, Brice’s mother, between St. Briac and England. When the Nazis arrived here in St. Briac, they took over our house and they turned it into their local headquarters. And after the liberation, as they were leaving, they set it on fire and bombed it to the ground.
Just this morning, one of my cousins showed me the telegram from my grandmother, who was in England, who sent word to my grandfather, who was then in Washington, D.C., about the house being bombed. And my mother told me that before the Nazis reached this village, the people of St. Briac collected some of our family items, things that were special – the linens, silverware, and so forth – and they kept them for safe keeping during the war. And when they gave these items back to my grandmother years later, she was overwhelmed with gratitude. So I know I speak for my entire family when I say we will never forget the people of St. Briac, this town’s courage and kindness. Thank you. (Applause.)
The very first time that my parents brought me to St. Briac is really one of the most – is one of the earliest, most vivid memories, but the earliest memories of my childhood. I was about four years old or so when you begin to remember. And it was a couple of years, a few years after the war had ended. It was the first time that my mother had come back here since she had fled France during the war, and I can still hear the sounds of the rubble and the broken glass that was crunching under our feet as we walked through what used to be her house. Almost nothing was left – just a stone staircase that rose up to the sky and an old brick chimney also rising up.
A few years later my grandparents rebuilt the house, and we have spent a family decades since filling it with happy memories. In a sense, that represents the story of France. Certainly this country saw and felt and experienced the tragedy of World War II as very few others did. But France rebuilt itself, brick by brick, and today she is as strong as ever. (Applause.)
A few minutes ago I had the privilege of visiting the American memorial which you have so graciously placed there above the port. And we had a chance to lay wreaths and celebrate those who gave their lives in the liberation of St. Briac, three Americans: Private Ralph Posey from Louisiana, Private Sim McDaniel from Arkansas, and Captain John Wilmer from Washington, D.C.
Captain Wilmer’s wife was pregnant when he left for Normandy. So before he died, Captain Wilmer wrote a letter to his unborn daughter. And he knew that he might not make it back to the United States alive, and he wanted to explain why he took the risk – what exactly he was fighting for. And his explanation was very simple. He told his daughter that he never met, “…family, home, and the right to breathe freely. I am willing to die fighting for these things. I am happy to fight for them.”
This sentiment – this dream of uncompromising defense of liberty – is at the heart of the partnership the United States and France have long shared and will continue to share. It is what has united us from the beginning of American history. (Applause.)
(In French.)
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
St. Briac, France
June 7, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY: (In French.)
I’m going to deliver remarks in French, but I want to start by saying a few words in English for the Americans who want to know why the American Secretary of State is here today and what we are celebrating. And I want to quickly explain why St. Briac and all of Brittany means so much to me and to my entire family, and it is why we wanted to come here today to celebrate the liberation even though the liberation was in August, but yesterday we were at the beginning of that liberation, celebrating with people from all of Europe and the world who know the meaning of D-Day and of freedom.
My grandfather was an American businessman, and he discovered the beauty of the Emerald Coast and raised his family of 11 children, 11 brothers and sisters, including my mother, Brice’s mother, between St. Briac and England. When the Nazis arrived here in St. Briac, they took over our house and they turned it into their local headquarters. And after the liberation, as they were leaving, they set it on fire and bombed it to the ground.
Just this morning, one of my cousins showed me the telegram from my grandmother, who was in England, who sent word to my grandfather, who was then in Washington, D.C., about the house being bombed. And my mother told me that before the Nazis reached this village, the people of St. Briac collected some of our family items, things that were special – the linens, silverware, and so forth – and they kept them for safe keeping during the war. And when they gave these items back to my grandmother years later, she was overwhelmed with gratitude. So I know I speak for my entire family when I say we will never forget the people of St. Briac, this town’s courage and kindness. Thank you. (Applause.)
The very first time that my parents brought me to St. Briac is really one of the most – is one of the earliest, most vivid memories, but the earliest memories of my childhood. I was about four years old or so when you begin to remember. And it was a couple of years, a few years after the war had ended. It was the first time that my mother had come back here since she had fled France during the war, and I can still hear the sounds of the rubble and the broken glass that was crunching under our feet as we walked through what used to be her house. Almost nothing was left – just a stone staircase that rose up to the sky and an old brick chimney also rising up.
A few years later my grandparents rebuilt the house, and we have spent a family decades since filling it with happy memories. In a sense, that represents the story of France. Certainly this country saw and felt and experienced the tragedy of World War II as very few others did. But France rebuilt itself, brick by brick, and today she is as strong as ever. (Applause.)
A few minutes ago I had the privilege of visiting the American memorial which you have so graciously placed there above the port. And we had a chance to lay wreaths and celebrate those who gave their lives in the liberation of St. Briac, three Americans: Private Ralph Posey from Louisiana, Private Sim McDaniel from Arkansas, and Captain John Wilmer from Washington, D.C.
Captain Wilmer’s wife was pregnant when he left for Normandy. So before he died, Captain Wilmer wrote a letter to his unborn daughter. And he knew that he might not make it back to the United States alive, and he wanted to explain why he took the risk – what exactly he was fighting for. And his explanation was very simple. He told his daughter that he never met, “…family, home, and the right to breathe freely. I am willing to die fighting for these things. I am happy to fight for them.”
This sentiment – this dream of uncompromising defense of liberty – is at the heart of the partnership the United States and France have long shared and will continue to share. It is what has united us from the beginning of American history. (Applause.)
(In French.)
(Applause and cheers.)
karynnj
(59,909 posts)9. thank you for this -- and for the translation
As someone from a large family, which has yearly reunions (no family estate exists, however) - now including over 20 in my kids generation, I can imagine the fun that Kerry and his many cousins had. It is easy to picture a young Kerry doing that tour de tennis! ( Good preparation for all the Pan Mass bike races he did - even in his late 60s. )