Kansas in Lorraine

Because of the joining of F�ves and Morganville (Kansas), a small American village, a delegation came to France for the commemoration of June 6th and a cultural exchange.

The two localities became friends after the war at the time of the reconstruction of the village of F�ves, which was completely devastated during the fighting. The farmers of Morganville gave seed, food and equipment.

The delegation was received by Ren� Girard, Mayor of F�ves, G�rard Torlotting, who is responsible for relations with Morganville, Mark Davoli, grandson of Mr. Berne, the former mayor of the town and several councilors. The American delegation was composed of six people: Gloria Freeland, a journalism professor at the university of Manhattan, Art Vaughan, historian, Katie and Hannah, singing in a choir on tour in Europe and Mariya and Ryan.

After the presentations, a discovery visit of the village began with the church built in 1521 and of the former rectory that is destined to become the new village office. After this first tour, everyone returned to the school for lunch.

Plum liqueur

The afternoon visit began at the old school/town hall, a historic site where Billy Utley, an American, brought gifts and food in 1949 after the total destruction of F�ves. At the request of the delegation, they gathered at the tomb of Mr. Berne, mayor at that time. The next step was to visit the old public washing place that now has a distillery that manufactures what the Americans call �plum liqueur.�

To close the day, everyone returned to the courtyard of the school where a hundred people were waiting. Art Vaughan spoke in praise of the hospitality of the town. Katie, American mezzo-soprano, was highly applauded after singing La Marseillaise a cappella. The entire delegation sang the Star Spangled Banner.

An exchange of gifts completed the afternoon.

The American delegation from Morganville received much applause.

(l-r: Mark Davoli, Ren� Girard, Hanna Serwe, Ryan Serwe, Mariya Vaughan, Katie Vaughan, Gloria Freeland,
Art Vaughan, Francis Pracht - translator - and G�rard Torlotting in front of the F�ves town offices.)

The French original.