AVA General Assembly Report – November 17 2018

1 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mr Renaud opens the meeting thanking the city of Sainte Mère-Eglise with their efficient contribution to our events of past June. He acknowledges also the necessary help of the benevolent people to our association.

2 – JUNE 2018  74TH D DAY

Each year we organize for the soldiers a dinner with local families. This past June, our board member Any St Martin, who was in charge of this event succeeded to get invitations for 140 soldiers. It will take place on June 4 next year.

We received full cooperation from the 82nd Airborne which provided their Color Guard and AA chorus to all our events.

Such as for the MEMORIAL SERVICE in the church in memory of the 82nd and 101st paratroopers killed and wounded in action in 1944. This was very moving. The 82nd Airborne chaplain co celebrated with the local Catholic priest and a beautiful local chorus. The US anthem sang by the Marie sisters in French is very unique.

We had wreath laying ceremonies at Alexandre Renaud monument and at the Airborne monument on the square. General Scaparotti, head of NATO, MG Kurilla CG 82nd and Jean Quetier, the mayor, delivered brilliant speeches. French Veterans were attending with their flags.

After that we enjoyed a cocktail party at the city hall.

The  AVA LIBERTY BANQUET  with 800 people attending was a great success. Entertainment was provided by the Ladies of Liberty from Louisville KY, a Dutch jazz group and the AA chorus. Mr Gilbert Osmont, a board member, did a great job to organize the banquet with his team .

The AVA association presented to MG Kurilla for the 82nd a metallic sculpture of a parachute.

It reads on the granit base of the sculpture:

“TO THE MEN OF THE 82ND ABN – IN UNDYING GRATITUDE – WE WILL NEVER FORGET
Ava Association – Sainte Mere Eglise

This sculpture is now exhibited at the 82nd ABN headquarter, in Fort Bragg.

 

About 12 US Generals, 100 US soldiers and military attaches from the US ambassy and a large American Legion group attended this banquet.

1944 Veterans were acclaimed and honored. Mrs Susan Eisenhower, Mrs Helen Patton and Mrs Chloe Beatty Gavin were prestigious guests. We are very thankful to the Airborne museum which donated 5000 euros for the banquet and to the Matern company for 4000 euros.

JUNE 2019 75TH D DAY

 AVA BANQUET will take place next year on FRIDAY JUNE 7  at 19h00. If you wish to attend, our advice is to register ASAP as we have already 800 registrations and we close at 1000.Payment should be made prior to April 15 via paypal or bank transfert. No cheques.

You can make a reservation at   ava50480@gmail.com with name and number in your party.

Banquet Cost per person:

  • 33 usd for association members

  • 40 usd for non members

For Paypal payments go to: www.avanormandy.org last paragraph.

AVA ceremonies on the church square will start on JUNE 6  at 16h00 followed by the Memorial Service and the cocktail party for the AVA members.

JUNE 9 at La Fière 

Morning : 1000 parachute jumps are expected. Military + Reenactors.

Afternoon : on our American Paratroopers Memorial site we will unveil at the base of Iron Mike statue a large granit plaque to honor the memory of Général James Maurice GAVIN  deputy CG of the 82nd Airborne in 1944. General GAVIN took directly and very courageously part in the dramatic battle of La Fiére. This ceremony will be attended by the Gavin family, General Milley chief of staff of the US army and several ex CGs 82nd and the present 82nd CG.

 

3 – VETERANS

Mr Renaud wishes to clarify the AVA policy as to the welcome of veterans: “As early as June 6th 1945, the town of Sainte Mère Eglise has gladly received paratrooper veterans each year. Since over 50 years, our association, under the leadership of Mrs. Simone Renaud, its founder, took over and continued the Welcome as an expression of our gratitude to the 82nd and 101st veterans. We always welcome them with open arms and invite them among other things to our banquet with their close family members. However, we cannot receive, free of charge, large groups with their travel leaders and we have to ask them to pay the same price as members of the AVA”

 

4 – FINANCIAL REPORT

The president presents the financial report of the association to the members of the assembly and it is approved unanimously.

 

5 – 75th ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM
Mr Quétier, mayor of new commune of Sainte-Mère Eglise is invited to present the pre-program of the festivities for June 2019. He makes it clear that in view of the magnitude of the anniversary, the dates are not yet set in stone but will be soon available on line on the town’s web site.

  • May : Photo expo of the filming of the Longest Day by the Cherbourg photo-club
  • Sat. May 25th : International Peace walk- Books fair
  • Monday, June 3rd : Military Memorabiliatrade fair
  • Tuesday, June 4th : Dinner hosted by French families
  • Thurs. June 6th : Commemorations at monument Renaud, Airborne Memorial, Memorial church service, cocktail party
  • Friday, June 7th : Ceremonies at the temporary cemeteries and at Signal Memorial- Liberty banquet
  • Sat. June 8th : 3000 musicians from 15 American states will parade in the streets and on a podium
  • Sunday, June 9th : Parachute drops: about 350 civilians & between 700 and 1000 soldiers – Ceremony at la Fière, Fireworks display
  • Monday, June 10th : Normandy Day – precision parachute jumps – Ceremony at former German prison camp in Foucarville

 

6 – VOTE FOR AVA BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEMBERS

Mr Maurice Renaud requests that all present members vote for 8 candidates. A bulletin was given to everyone with 9 names on it (some for re-election, some new). The counting takes place during the meeting.

 

7 – SITE DE LA FIERE

The President informs the assembly of various cost estimates for improvements to the site at La Fière

  • Parking : 1 700 euros
  • Gardening, maintenance and plantations : 3 900 euros.
  • The cost for General GAVIN plaque is not finalized yet but should be around 10 000

 

Results of the votes

Mr Deschamps, is designed as president assessor of the elections by Maurice Renaud and he announces the results: 99 votes, all cast.

AME

NUMBER of VOTES CAST

BOHEC Laurence

98

DUBOSCQ Danielle

91

HASLEY Audrey

99

LECATHELINAIS Michel

79

LEROY SARFATI Patricia

93

LEQUERTIER Nicolas

31

SAINT-MARTIN Any

99

RENAUD Bertrand

97

 

ELECTION RESULT

  • Reelected to the Board: Audrey Hasley, Michel Lecathelinais and Any Saint-Martin
  • Newly elected: Laurence Bohec, Danielle Duboscq, Patricia Leroy Sarfati et Bertrand Renaud.

 

Board of directors

  • Maurice Renaud is reelected President
  • Any Saint-Martin is elected Vice-president
  • Albert Duquesnay is reelected Vice-President
  • Barthelemy Ballester is reelected Treasurer
  • Louisette Leducq is elected secretary.

 

 

Airborne all the way

Maurice RENAUD.

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