Friday, June 10, 2011

Normandy Day



Students attended Normandy Day International Picnic at Winslow Park. The event was well attended, friendly, festive and convivial The objective was for our students to kindle and strengthen the memory of June 6th, 1944 and celebrate freedom, peace and democracy while sharing a picnic at the beach. The school chef Emilia prepared a French Flavored lunch with Pan Bagna, Piemontaise salad and cascading watermelon. Following this delicious meal, students enjoyed games planned and coordinated by teachers. In class, students discussed the values that characterized D-Day : courage, determination, cooperation, honor and ambition. Special thanks to Jeremy and Hal who helped decorate the shelter and to the Winslow Park staff for their help and support. L'Ecole Francaise du Maine was the first American school to officially participate in this event and partner with Normandy Day organization in France which provided the school with the official table cloths.This year marks the 67th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, which was the major turning point of WWII in Europe. Early in the morning of June 6, 1944, the largest military operation in history began as 135,000 Allied soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy, to begin the liberation of Europe, and change the course of history. With Normandy Day, l'Ecole Française du Maine expressed its gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifice of so many for today's freedom.