December 27, 2002
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Fraternité par delà l ' océan et le temps .
Vous voyez cet homme debout levant son verre devant sa famille réunie pour ce Noël dans l ' Ontario ( Canada ) . Il porte un toast pour moi et ma famille en France . Sa fille aînée m ' a transmis la photo le lendemain par internet.
Je l ' ai connu en Septembre 1944 . Il était un soldat canadien qui libérait la France et nous avons fraternisé à cette époque héroïque . Cette fraternité n ' a jamais été oubliée . Il est toujours mon camarade . Je te salue Douglas ! Et merci !
© Photo taken by Lynn Burnett 25 th of december 2002 . part view ..
Fraternity overseas and through the time .
You see this man standing up and raising his glass in front of his family gathered at this last Christmas in Ontario ( Canada ) . He toasts to me and my family in France . His oldest daughter transmitted to me the picture the next day via the Internet
I met him in September 1944. He was a Canadian soldier who liberated France and we fraternized at this heroic time . This fraternity has never been forgotten . He always is my comrade . I salute you Douglas ! And thank you !
Comments (88)
It's wonderful to have a lifelong friend like that! What a thing to treasure
How beautiful! It's wonderful that you have kept in touch for so long! Thanks for the Merry Christmas wishes! I hope yours was wonderful as well!
You have lived life well Michel and it shows by the love that comes back to you.
What a treasured story~! cheers to Michel and Douglas
What a lovely gift! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Oh Michel. That is beautiful. I have to say I have tars inmy eyes. That is very touching. *kiss on cheek* That is what the holidays is all about, no? Friendship, love and family.
Take care my friend!
L´amitié est la plus importante richesse du monde.
what is more precious than a lifelong friendship? =)...i envy you very much Michel!=PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
What a wonderful way to remember such an important time. Thank you for sharing.
What a great picture! How lucky you are to have such a cool friend for such a long time!
You have the best blog's!!!!
Have a great day!
What a lovely thing to have his friendship all this time ,from when you were 12 . It would be a interesting blog sometime to tell us how you made friends with Douglas
On devrait chérir des amis de jours partis par toujours. C'est une merveilleuse image.
ANSWER to englishjuls : I have already related this friendship story at the beginning of last january 2002 . Click on the links below if you want .
1) An old letter in a wallet January 05 / 02
2) I had a comrade
That's awesome! Great picture, too!
DG
How lovely to keep up a friendship over all these years - he must be very special to you. I loved your " card " ( I always send " holy " cards as that is what this season is about isn't it ? ) Sadly most people forget about Christmas as soon as THE day is over but there is the Epiphany ( little Christmas ) to look forward to yet. after that crib and decs. are taken down
Oh, how WONDERFUL!
Salud! And happy memories shared!
I resently contacted a man in Glasgow , Scotland regarding the Polish Navy in Scotland . I also sent photos by internet to the Polish organization. The chairman of the group remembered my father! They had served on the same famous now museum ORP BLYSKAWICA (destoryer). It was so good to know and thank those that contributed to OUR freedom. I salute you too! Christmas is a good time to remember those times and people. I have read so much about the histroy of the ship and what those young men did. My father never really talked about the WAR. I never really knew how bad things must have been for them. Salute to all the brave people!
@-}-}- Karolyn
I reread your story from long ago ! Very emotional!
Thank you for sharring! @-}-}--
That is soooooo nice!
Aww! How special a time!
what a beautiful warm photo, michel. i dont think ive ever looked at a photo of total strangers for so long. something about it, it brought tears to my eyes also. ... and i noticed somethin made me laugh too much... they are all holding up Glasses, except the man on the right is holding up a Whole Bottle! hahahehee, must be the party animal of the family
=)
The internet is a wonderful thing when it can share a memory like that so quickly!
WOw! That was very kind of him! Thanks for your concern and well wishes on my site! Yes, this is not one of the easiest holidays I have had, but it is still happy and I am learning to make the best of it
C'est la vie!
Happy New Year! (How would I write that, bonne nouvelle annee?)
Clementine
So two families can spend Christmas together, even if far away.......enchanting.
How nice to be saluted across the ocean, across the world. Douglas is a true friend indeed!
Comment gentil d'être salué à travers l'océan, à travers le monde. Douglas est un ami vrai en effet!
How wonderful!! And, what a great picture!! This is truly a heaven sent relationship. Says a lot about both of you. Isn't it marvelous what the internet enables??
Have a great weekend before the New Year!!
ce que j'aime bien c'est que toute sa famille a vous fait le toast. incroyablement merveilleux - le photo et les histoires qui restent parmi mes favoris. et mieux car c'est une vraie histoire d'une amitie que le temps et les mers ne peuvent pas preventer qui continue meme aujourd'hui. une histoire belle et inspirant dans un monde qui a besoin de l'esprit d'humanite plus que jamais.
throughout space and time .. real feelings weave like a fine cloth and clothe us in memories .. and dreams.
to remember a friend is a great gift~
~a gift of being present with love.
O~ the happiest and merriest of new years to you
dear michel
love,
jude
(*
*
a very interesting effect over the photo too
C'est un beau photo.
Oh now that is wonderful sentiment! How sweet and it is wonderful that you both have remembered each other all these years. But then for something so awesome how could you help but remember? Wonderful my friend! I am back! I finally posted, just a little late! Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow! ! ! Much love and many hugs! ! ! !
That is a very special friendship. As we get older and the memories fade I find the most lasting memories are those that affected us so much in our youth. You are blessed Michel to have such a friend and I am sure he feels the same. May God grant you many more years of friendship
Hip hip hip hurra for Douglas and also for all the people of the world who risk theyr life to fight for freedom everyday.
Wonderfull to keep the friendship for so distance in time and in space and the families too.
Just great.
Bien a toi e a ta famille Michel .
Buon anno.
Carlo.
It is nice to see large families sitting round a large table. I am sure that picture was very emotional for you, with Douglas standing up and honouring your shared memories. Thanks for posting it. Tom
What a wonderful story!
Isn't the internet a wonderfully powerful tool, where we can have pictures sent around the world almost immediately! Did you manage to send Douglas any photos of your celebrations?
Beautiful picture of your wonderful Comrade and family.....
Salut! I can feel the warmth in the room!
Wow... that is so very powerful... a lasting bond
Quelle belle amitié!
...thank you for visiting and your words of comfort. In a pain free moment (the blessing of pills) stopped in to read your wonderfully warm post and see the delightful picture.
MuSe
...what a marvelous tribute to friendship, Michel. You are blessed. Thank you for sharing this inspiration. I toast to you, also.
PS: looks like they are enjoying some of your fine French wine. Mmmm....
MuSe
très sympa
Hello Michel! Let's see..digestive pyrotechnics is a phrase I like to use for an upset stomach...I get those alot!
I have to say, it is wonderfull to have a life long friend like that, you are blessed!!
CHEERS to you and Douglas!!
Thank you for sharing.
This is defintely a priceless moment.
Viva La France!!
that's wonderful that you maintain the connection!
and i live in ontario too! wow~~
I have been to read your blogs from January which told me the story of how you meet Douglas , it was very interesting . We have been to the museam just between Wimealux and the next town ( sorry about the spelling but its on that coast road )
it is wonderful when we can be re-united with friends like this after many years and many memories have passed! what a great feeling, especially around the holidays. thank you for sharing this picture with us!
I'm glad you shared this with us.
It's really quite a touching and amazing story. 
wow! that is really great!
thanks for sharing that story... happy holidays!
~emma
(((((((((((((Fauquet & Family))))))))))) Wishing you and yours a Wonderful, prosperous New Year!
MAY YOU HAVE A WOUNDERFUL NEW YEAR AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. LOVE FANCY
how wonderful!
Portia emailes "I remember you telling me about this man when we first met. Wasn't that lovely of him to send you that photo, some people seem to do such a lot, I am still struggling to understand expect it is my advanced age. Cheers Marjie "
=D sounds so nice, if only the rest of the world were so lucky
Une guerre qui déchire un pays de côté, frères de marques. Ceci est beau. Vous saluez toujours après beaucoup d'années. Un lien éternel. Il me fait souhaite pour les amis tout comme fort.
Avoir une nouvelle année merveilleuse.
and who says technology alienates people! this is fantastic and wonderful.
happy holidays to you and your lovely family sir.
That's better than my story.
What a marvelous thing to have a lifelong friend. The long distance toast is touching - isn't it a blessing to live in the time of the Internet that allows you to see the raised glass moments after the wine has been tasted?
*tips my cup too*
Wow, what a sweet and inspiring blog! How nice to read about something like that...
Aww Michel once again I thank you for your sweet comments. My hubby got the furnace in this old house to work so the house is no longer cold. This is a good thing. Now it is sometimes too warm. lol Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow! ! ! Much love and hugs! ! ! !
Santé
I hope Douglas still is in good health and hoping for you the same. All the best for 2003!
What a wonderful and heartwarming story! Friends make everything better, they share the good and the bad times. I'm so impressed that you've kept in touch for so many years ~ that is wonderful! May God bless you both!
What a wonderful picture and story to share. It gives me goosebumps on my arms. Thank you for your kind words at my site. May you be blessed this day with Love and Joy. zera
Bon jour Michel! I'm sorry I haven't been around as I have been on holiday from 25 Dec to 1 Jan. This is a very special photograph. It is wonderful you have kept up a friendship with this man and his family over the years. As bad as war is, there are some good things that come from it. Cheers, Neil
I still say this is a wonderful and touching photograph. It exemplifies what friendships should be.
This brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, friend, for sharing story and photo.
A friend who is like a brother will always be a friend no matter how great the distance that separates you. Blessings to you in 2003.
Carol
that is so wonderful! Isn't it a blessing to have good friends!
L'Internet est manifique, non? On n'est pas si loin des autres. Mon grand-pere etait en France et Belgique pendant la deuxieme guerre mondiale. Il m'a dit que les Francais etaient tres amiables.
Merci pour les compliments sur mon site. Bientot j'espere de mettre plusieurs photos sur le site.
The only rose without thorns is friendship. With clothes the new are best, with friends the old are best. Guy
I tried to leave a comment on your site when you first wrote this blog, but the internet would not let me.
I am glad now though, because I was able to come back and read the very interesting stories that you posted about this earlier.
It was sad reading about the war and the lost of the house and all the belongings. How lucky they were though to have left that house when they did.
It is great, that with the internet you were able to contact your friends daughter and she was able to reunite you with your friend after 58 years. What a beautiful, moving story!!! Thanks for sharing!
I had to come back and wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year!!!
Such a heart-warming photo; and wonderful sentiments. You have inspired me to search for an old WW II buddy of mine.
It sounds like you have a wonderful friendship!!! That's a fantastic photograph
Bonne annee a toi et ton famille!
The photo is very heartwarming. Thanks for sharing.
Amitie,
Kelly xx
Wanted to thank you for your nice comment.
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how wounderful your memories michael.... love fancy, happy new year friend !
Thanks for sharing that picture, Michel. It looks like such a warm gathering. Of course the story of how you met and were reunited with Douglas was amazing!!
Merci pour nous donner cet image de joie...
This one brought a tear to my eye Michel.
Wow, what a friendship. I can only smile
Thank you for posting that beautiful image.
God bless both of you.
Hubbard
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